1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year, so chances are you will know someone who is experiencing or will experience a mental health problem. Supporting someone with mental health challenges involves empathy, active listening, and practical assistance; while also ensuring you take care of your own well-being. Here are some tips for supporting someone who is experiencing a mental health problem.

• Show love: Whatever the problem is, approach the person with love, compassion and grace. Show patience and kindness where possible and let them know that you’re there for them. Jesus of course has a lot to say on love, and the old phrase “what would Jesus do” is always a good guide if you’re unsure how best to show it.

• Don’t be afraid to ask: If you suspect that someone is facing a mental health problem, ask. Whether they are or not, it’ll show that you care about them and remind them that they have friends who they can talk to if and when they do experience a problem. In the gospels we often find Jesus asking direct or difficult questions to people in order to facilitate their healing, e.g. the paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:6).

• Encourage professional help: If they are open to it, encourage them to seek professional help. Offer to assist them in finding a therapist or even accompany them to their first appointment if they feel anxious about it.

• Regular check ins: If you know that someone is experiencing a mental health issue, regularly checking in with them can be a way to offer ongoing support. It shows that you care, that you’re there for them and that your friendship means a lot to them. This can be face to face, such as going for a walk or a coffee, or a phone call or even a text. In the book of Ruth, we see how Ruth choses to stay and help Naomi during her time of struggle “where you go, I will go and where you stay I will stay” (Ruth 1:16) and through this she demonstrated her love, loyalty and friendship.

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• No Judgement: Remember, mental health can affect a person’s behaviour and energy levels as well as emotions, so they may act differently to normal and have difficulty with their usual activities. Try not to judge and instead have patience and understanding.

• Don’t assume you know: Even if you have experience with mental health problems, you may not know exactly what the person is experiencing. Each person’s experience is different and therefore may need a different approach.

• Learn about their disorder: Especially if the disorder is more complex, learning about it can better equip you to offer appropriate support. It can also be useful to identify the personal tell-tale signs of the individuals so you can recognize when they’re having a bad day.

• Offer to do activities with them: Everyday activities can become more difficult when you’re living with a mental health problem, even things like cleaning the house, cooking or walking to school. Offering to do these things with them, or when appropriate for them, can help alleviate some of their day-to-day burdens.

• Tell a trusted adult: Especially if you are younger, remember that someone else’s mental health issues are not your responsibility. Whilst you can do things to help, the issues are not yours to fix and should never be taken on alone. Tell a trusted adult about the issues as they are more able to help than you.

• Set boundaries: Supporting someone else can be emotionally taxing, and it can be easy to feel the weight of their burdens on yourself. It’s essential to set boundaries to protect your own mental health, else you both may end up in a worse position than before.

• Recognise the signs: Mental health conditions can fluctuate in their severity from day to day. Sometimes people can take drastic actions, such as hurting themselves or even ending their life. If you suspect that someone may be planning either of these things, it’s important to act quickly. Tell someone who can help immediately. There are emergency helplines available as well such as the Samaritans who can provide assistance and advice. It may also be necessary to call the emergency services.

• Offer encouragement: Mental health issues can often feel like a long journey down a straight road and it can be difficult for someone to see the progress they’re making. Try to point out the small success’s in someone’s journey, even if that success is simply that they got out of bed today. Remind them on the bad days that it’s ok to struggle, and they there’s always tomorrow.

• Let God use you as a blessing: It can be difficult to know exactly how to help people struggling with mental health disorders, but God our Father who created them knows exactly what they need. Let God guide your actions and your words and trust that he will equip you to help them