How To Support Friends With Mental Illness

Friendship means so much to us that even scientists have witnessed its positive impact on the brain and body. While it may sound like a Disney movie, the powerful bonds of friendship give us comfort, lower our stress, and make us more resilient. 

Friendship is a connection built on trust, care, and shared experiences. It typically benefits both parties with heightened self-confidence, reduced stress, and motivation to maintain healthy habits. Friends are also there to make memories, celebrate your wins alongside you, and support you through tough experiences. 

Friendship has a few main components that measure its quality and strength. One study shows that there are six components in total, and they’re all essential for a healthy friendship:

• Stimulating Companionship: When you and your friends have fun at casual hangouts or during adventurous activities, you may feel more relaxed and carefree around each other. Joking and teasing can also naturally happen during quality time. 
• Help and Social Support: Friends offer emotional support by showing care, love, and encouragement when times get tough. They also provide practical help when needed, such as offering a ride, helping with errands, or lending a hand when you’re stressed. Friends might also share helpful advice or guidance, supplying you with information that can make life easier.
• Emotional Security and Reliability: When you know your friends are there to offer comfort during uncertain or overwhelming situations, stressful moments may feel a little easier to handle. Similarly, being able to rely on friends emotionally from time to time when you need them most builds trust and strengthens your connection.
• Self-Esteem and Validation: Good friends encourage you, affirm your strengths and help you maintain a positive self-image. When the world or social media feels like it may be tearing you down, your friends can bring you back up. 
• Emotional Intimacy: Even though many friendships don’t have a sexual dynamic, they can still be intimate when you share personal thoughts and feelings. Having a friend respond with care and understanding about how you feel can help you feel better and deepen the relationship even more.

How Mental Illness Affects Friendships

Perhaps the question isn’t so much how mental illness affects your friendships but how friendships can improve anxiety and depression symptoms. Research highlights that friends can protect against depressive symptoms by simply offering social support and the chance to have funny, positive, or entertaining interactions. Therefore, friendship can play a crucial role in buffering the effects of mental illness symptoms. Adolescents especially may rely on friends rather than adults when facing mental health struggles. 

How to Handle an Overwhelming Friendship 

Supporting a friend with mental illness is important, but it can become overwhelming sometimes. It’s essential to set boundaries and recognize when your friend may need treatment for their mental health at either of our Waukesha or Middleton, WI locations. If you’re feeling in over your head or ineffective in your friendship, you should seek support from an adult or counselor when:

• Your friend threatens to harm themselves or others.
• Your friend communicates that they’re having suicidal thoughts. 
• You notice concerning changes like self-harm, hallucinations, or extreme withdrawal.
• The weight of the friendship is impacting your mental well-being, such as lowering your self-esteem or causing you noticeable anxiety.

Tips For Supporting Friends Who Receive Mental Health Treatment

Fortunately, being a supportive friend when your friends are struggling doesn’t require grand gestures. Small, thoughtful actions can be just as meaningful:

• Be Kind: Acts of kindness build emotional security. 
• Be a Good Listener: Listening without judgment shows your friends you value them. Remember to avoid pushing advice onto your friend unless asked.
• Open Up: Sharing your feelings can encourage your friend to do the same.
• Be Trustworthy: Show up when you say you will, and respect their privacy.
• Make an Effort: Regular check-ins and consistent communication let your friends know you care.

Ways to Brighten Your Friend’s Day

Simple acts of kindness can go much further than you may realize:

• Give a Small Gift: Little thoughtful gestures, like bringing your friend their favorite snack or book, can show them you’re thinking of them.
• Open Up and Be Vulnerable: Sharing your struggles and feelings helps your friend feel less alone. Research supports this belief, showing that opening up about yourself encourages empathy and connection for everyone.
• Develop a Routine Together: Consistent routines, like meeting at the same cafe or joining a fitness class, can provide comfort and predictability. Even small interactions can positively impact your and your friend’s mental well-being.

Respond Kindly to a Mental Health Diagnosis

If your friend shares a mental health diagnosis, approach the conversation with empathy:

• Validate Their Feelings: Acknowledge their experiences without judgment. 
• Ask How You Can Help: Directly asking how your friend needs help can guide you in offering support they’ll appreciate.
• Respect Their Limits: If your friend rejects your invitations or communicates that they need space, be understanding, but continue to offer your presence.
• Avoid Gossip: Respect their trust by keeping personal information private unless you have a safety concern.
• Encourage Positive Distractions: Taking a break from difficult conversations with fun activities like yoga, a movie night, or a walk can improve their mood and ease anxiety.

Find Mental Health Services in Wisconsin

Remember, being a supportive friend matters, but no one should have to carry the burden alone. Seeking professional support can provide vital help for both you and your loved ones. If you or a friend are struggling with mental health or substance use challenges, Miramont Behavioral Health is here for you in Waukesha and Middletown, Wisconsin. Contact us today to learn how we provide a safe, supportive space.