Factors that may hold back an individual from seeking help
Stigma about being labelled as ‘crazy’ or ‘weak’ for seeking help, eventually leading to fear, shame, embarrassment about not fitting into society
Low perceived need for help based on seeing one’s concerns as too small compared to others, or thinking that the problem doesn’t lie with them
Preference for self-reliance as seeking help might be seen as being dependent and not having control and power over one’s own life
Family beliefs or past experiences about treatment not being helpful
Difficulty accessing help due to financial and/or logistical constraints
Difficulty identifying and expressing concerns due to limited mental health information, finding it hard to communicate
Forcing an individual to seek help does not work
When individuals are forced to consult a professional even when they’re not ready, they may:
Not open up / hide important information / lie
Feel fear or defiance
Feel resentful on being forced
Hence, encouraging them gently and letting them feel ready to seek help is necessary.
How to help someone get ready to seek help
Initiating conversation around mental health to create awareness and sensitivity, and to get an idea about their understanding of mental health
Expressing concerns, conveying changes observed in their daily life without sounding judgmental or biased
Sharing life stories of people’s experiences dealing with similar distress (while not minimising or comparing) to encourage them and let them know they’re not alone
Providing resources such as relevant mental health information, identifying professionals who seem like a good fit, etc.
Easing their worries by debunking any myths, nudging them for the initial talk with a professional, accompanying them for their first session, etc.
Ways to support them till they’re ready to seek help
Offering unconditional support and helping them the way they want to be helped
Lending a hand by helping them plan out their day/tasks or sharing the load of some tasks while being mindful of our own capacity
Encouraging them to participate in activities and participating with them
Being patient and providing a judgement-free space irrespective of whether they choose to seek help or not
Checking in on their well-being, letting them know that we’re here if they need
Keeping resources ready like safety kits, anxiety toolkits, basic breathing exercises to help calm them down in the face of any distress
Being mindful of one’s limitations
Understanding our limitsand reducing pressure on ourselves as we can’t replace the help provided by professionals (except taking steps to ensure safety)
Keeping a check on our feelings as the process can bring in feelings of frustration, exhaustion, helplessness, etc. and it is important to take care of ourselves too
Noticing changes in our physical health/daily functioning as caregiving can affect our health and productivity
Taking a break even if it feels selfish
Asking for help and sharing responsibility with others and not looking at it as us being less dependable
Creating boundaries and choosing how we wish to help others
Seeking support when it’s becoming very difficult to manage our own mental health
Call our helpline or email us if you are struggling with taking care of someone and feeling stressed yourself.
