7 Ways to Reach Out in a Mental Health Crisis

7 Ways to Reach Out in a Mental Health Crisis

Zoe Stilphen

June 1 2021

Talking about your own mental health can be a very difficult conversation. Knowing where to start can be even harder. If you or someone you know are struggling with mental health issues, know that you are not alone.

Reaching out can be the first step towards helping yourself relieve some of the struggle that you may be dealing with internally. Below are eight ways in which you can strategize how to reach out to someone you know, or don’t, to ask for help and support.

If you are feeling suicidal or are at risk of hurting yourself or others, please seek help from your local emergency room or contact the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

Be Blunt.

If you don’t know where to start but feel ready to reach out for help, just do it. Tell a friend, family member, or someone you feel that you can trust. “I am (depressed/anxious/suicidal). I am not sure what I need right now but I do not want to be alone.” Using this phrase or one like it can help both you and the person you are contacting get right to the point and move forward with your communication. It may feel difficult, but know that it is worth it.

Find Distraction.

Text a friend or someone you know that you want a distraction. “Hey Friend, I’m feeling kind of down today. Can we do something to distract me?” Hopefully you and your friend can find something that usually brings you joy to step away from your moments of angst and attempt to find clarity in your thoughts.

Do Check-Ins.

Connect with a sibling or someone you enjoy connecting with and ask them if they can check in on you to see how you’re doing. This could be a daily occurrence, or however often you think would be helpful. Make sure to set a time to check in so that you have something solidified to look forward to. You could see this as a self-care check-in that can benefit both you and the person you are chatting with to work on self reflection and expressing your emotions and experiences with another person.

Talk to a Professional.