Men are often taught to hide their feelings and be “strong”. This means that many men don’t talk if they’re struggling with their mental health. It’s no surprise that men are three times as likely to die by suicide than women.  

But mental health is a topic that’s becoming increasingly talked about. And rightly so. The better we are at discussing our mental health, the better our mental health will be. We need to live in a society where people are honest, open and aren’t afraid to ask for help.  

It can be difficult seeing a friend struggling with their mental health. However, your friend needs to know that you’re there for them. Here are some ways to support a friend who’s struggling with their mental health.

Financial support

When someone is severely struggling with their mental health, they often can’t go to work or do normal activities. Depression, for example, leaves people with extremely low motivation and they might want to spend most of their time in bed. Likewise, Post-traumatic stress (PTSD) can make people anxious about going out, especially if the stress is caused by events like robbery. So, in these scenarios, your friend might find that they’re struggling financially. However, there are plenty of different ways for them to get financial support. If they are a veteran, they may be entitled to veterans disability for PTSD, for example. Organizing this might be difficult for them in their current condition, so helping with this could be useful. Alternatively, if you’re able to help your friend financially, this may be a kind gesture  

Chores

A friend struggling with their mental health might also not be able to do regular household tasks. They might feel overwhelmed by the prospect of cleaning or cooking a meal. But it’s not good for anyone to be in a dirty house or not eat proper meals. It won’t help the situation. So, why not help your friend out by taking on some of their chores? Help to keep their house tidy and cook them some healthy, nutritious meals. While a good meal and a clean house won’t fix their mental health, it relieves them of a burden and shows that you care about them.

Being present

The best way to help a friend who is struggling with their mental health is to be present – through thick and thin. This means knowing that they might not be fun to be around, but sticking with them anyway. It also means not putting them under any pressure to be social. If they don’t want to see you, that’s perfectly fine. However, a regular message checking in and letting them know that you’re there if they need you will really help. People need to know that our friends have our backs and won’t disappear when we’re not at our best.