A Q and A on Supporting Someone Else

What actually helps when someone close to you is struggling with their mental health.

Key takeaways

• Asking directly about suicide: does not increase risk; evidence supports asking
• Most useful thing in the moment: listening without rushing to solutions
• Most useful single change: Ask directly and in plain words, including about suicide if you are worried.
• Commonest mistake: Opening with advice, or with what worked for you.
• See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.

What is Supporting Someone Else?

What actually helps when someone close to you is struggling with their mental health.

Why does it matter?

Most people say nothing because they fear saying the wrong thing, and saying something imperfect is reliably better than silence.

Asking directly about suicide for Supporting Someone Else?

Does not increase risk; evidence supports asking.

Most useful thing in the moment for Supporting Someone Else?

Listening without rushing to solutions.

Samaritans, free, any hour for Supporting Someone Else?

116 123.

Shout crisis text line for Supporting Someone Else?

Text SHOUT to 85258.

What is the single most useful thing to do?

Ask directly and in plain words, including about suicide if you are worried.

What is the most common mistake?

Opening with advice, or with what worked for you.

When should I see a doctor?

If someone is in immediate danger or has seriously harmed themselves, call 999 or go to A&E. If they are in crisis but not in immediate danger, NHS 111 and local urgent mental health helplines operate around the clock, and the Samaritans can be reached free on 116 123 at any hour.

Where to go next

• What People Get Wrong About Supporting Someone Else
• Supporting Someone Else: A Beginner-Friendly Start
• Supporting Someone Else — the reference entry
• What the Guidance Really Says About Alcohol and Mental Health
• The Evidence on Stress, Without the Hype

When to speak to a doctor

If someone is in immediate danger or has seriously harmed themselves, call 999 or go to A&E. If they are in crisis but not in immediate danger, NHS 111 and local urgent mental health helplines operate around the clock, and the Samaritans can be reached free on 116 123 at any hour.

Where this comes from

• NHS — Help for suicidal thoughts
• Samaritans — how to support someone

How this page was put together

Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.

Medical disclaimer

This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.