A decline in mental health is something that affects millions of people around the world. Some may face mental illness daily while others might experience an occasional reduction in the state of their mental health due to a recent event or circumstance.
Either way, it’s important for everyone to have a safe person they can talk to about their mental health. What is a safe person? Someone who can be trusted and someone who one feels comfortable talking to.
Below are some examples of safe people to speak to about one’s mental health.
Close Friend
One of the first people you might reach out to when in a mental health crisis is a good friend. Perhaps this friend is someone you’ve known for years or even someone you’ve only known for a few months but have bonded well with since meeting them.
An example of a friend who isn’t a good candidate for talking about mental health is someone who is prone to gossiping, frequently degrades you, is bad at keeping secrets, or likes to make every conversation about them.
Trusted Relative
Not everyone has a family member who they feel comfortable talking to about their mental health. However, if there’s someone in particular you feel you can confide in, this person might be a great person to speak to about your mental health woes. Sometimes it can feel good to get others’ points-of-view and personal insight.
Be aware, though, that relatives often speak to other relatives. That said, your private conversation with a good family member might turn into the entire family finding out. Sometimes however, this is done out of love as a means to protect you, not as a way to exploit or embarrass you.
Therapist or Counselor
Whether you are currently attending counseling or therapy, or if you’re considering doing so, a mental health professional like one of these is one of the best people to speak to about mental health.
Therapists and counselors ar specifically trained to know how to respond to someone speaking about their mental health. Judgment and criticism aren’t things you’ll be hearing from these professionals. Not to mention, personal opinions, including political and religious beliefs, will tend to be separate from your conversation with them.
Medical Professional
In the event that a medical professional asks you about your mental health, it’s always best to be upfront. Being completely honest can get you the best care in a hospital setting as possible.
The latter is even truer in an inpatient treatment center, particularly one that specializes in mental health. You can expect to get the quality care you require unless you are completely open and comfortable about what you’re going through and the symptoms you’re facing. Honesty is the best policy.
Conclusion
It isn’t always easy opening up about your mental health. For some, it just might be one of the hardest things they ever do. Sometimes talking about your mental health is easier when it’s someone you feel safe talking to. A close friend, relative, therapist, or medical professional are examples of people you may be able to open up to about touchy subjects like these.