5 Ways to Help Someone Struggling With Their Mental Health

In 2017, I left the military after 14 years of service as an Army military policeman. I came to Texas with a debilitating back injury, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), little financial security and looming in my future was hurricane Harvey. Like so many who are in pain, I started to abuse alcohol and prescription drugs.

• What is PTSD?

Then hurricane Harvey hit: the catalyst that tipped the scales. With my savings already gone and no assistance from FEMA, my family was left living in a hotel room. Feeling like I couldn’t provide for my family only worsened my PTSD. But I couldn’t go to anybody — I told myself that other people need help more than I do and my problems weren’t “that” bad. So I tried to deal with it on my own, but I was in too deep.

So deep that in October 2017 I drove to the hotel I was living in, parked the car and pulled my gun out of the glove compartment. I didn’t see any other options. At that moment, my fiancée came outside. I couldn’t let her see what I was about to do, so I put the gun away and followed her inside. There she handed me a check and I learned that somebody applied for a grant for me from the Veterans of Foreign Wars. It wasn’t necessarily the money that brought my head above water so I could reanalyze the situation and take the next step forward — it was the fact that somebody cared enough about me to notice I was struggling and offer help.

From that point on, I knew I wanted to help others. For those that know somebody who needs help: don’t sit by. Everybody has the power to make one small action that can change somebody else’s life, and in a time with so much uncertainty and fear in the world, we should all aim for that.

So here are five small things you can do today to help somebody in your life who may be struggling.

1. Notice changes.

In our fast-paced culture, its common to rush by people, even those you love, and not really notice how they are doing. Have they become quieter and more withdrawn or perpetually angry? That is often a big signal they are struggling with something. Other top signals include changes to their hygiene, sleep, appetite and focus.

But did you know that even positive changes are often indicators of mental or emotional turmoil? Trust your gut. If somebody has become more social all of a sudden and they seem “fine” now, they probably aren’t really fine. Really taking the time to notice people in your life and be aware of any personality changes is the first step to being there for somebody.

2. Avoid giving advice and silver linings.

Once you start noticing the people in your life who may be struggling, it’s tempting to want to talk to them. But avoid giving advice and silver linings, as it can tend to make somebody shut down even more. You want to create space where they can open up to you, so check in often and just be there to listen — even if they don’t want to talk.

If they do want to open up to you, make an effort to hear the story from their perspective. Even if their struggle doesn’t make sense to you, avoid saying “it could be worse” or listing the reasons why they should be happy. Fight the urge to try and “fix” their problems. Sometimes, the best “fix” is to just lend a listening ear and to know when to refer your loved one to a professional.

3. Be proactive.

If you notice that somebody in your life could use a little tangible help, be proactive and offer it, rather than saying “let me know if you need anything.” While that may be a socially acceptable phrase, it puts all the pressure on the other person to reach out to you. And humans are conditioned to see asking for help as a weakness, so the odds they take you up on the offer are small. So if you notice a mom on your kid’s soccer team is constantly late for pickup, offer to drive her child home. If your sister’s health is poor, but she can’t afford to eat well, drop off a healthy meal once in a while. Apply for that financial aid for somebody. Your gesture doesn’t need to be big; it’s often the little things that help people the most.

4. Suggest volunteering.

Today, I travel around speaking and advocating for awareness for PTSD and suicide prevention. While sharing my story provides hope to others, it also continues to heal me. I have found each time I recount my experiences, I release more of the weight of them. That’s why I continue to serve, and because of my service I have been named a spokesperson for the VFW’s newest campaign, #StillServing, which aims to bring to light the continued service of America’s veterans.

Remind your loved one that volunteering and serving others is a great way to foster their own healing. Invite them to go with you to a food bank or animal shelter as a way to get out of your head for a few hours.

5. Remember to care for yourself as well.

You can’t pour from an empty cup, so make sure to take care of yourself as well. Do not blame yourself for not “doing enough” or not feeling comfortable talking to somebody about their experiences. Even following just one of the tips above can mean the world to somebody. It did for me.

I still don’t know who applied for that grant for me, but it changed my life. Today, I am in school working toward becoming a family law attorney, I speak about and advocate for PTSD and suicide awareness and I am a spokesperson for the VFW’s #StillServing campaign.