Communicating with your friend

You want to discuss the situation, but you also don’t want to hurt their feelings. What to do and how to do it?

It’s important to be able to tell them how you feel in this situation. Talking will do you both good. First and foremost, your friend is a person and not their mental illness. Although it isn’t always easy, try to distinguish between aspects of their personality and aspects of the illness.

How can you approach a sensitive topic that has nothing to do with this situation? Similarly. Know that it is okay to talk to your friend about their mental illness in a mutually respectful way. Those living with mental illness are not always in a fragile state. Use “I” rather than “you” in your sentences and use your own feelings to talk about your opinions or reactions. If you’re not sure what to do or if you think your friend is really unwell, seek help from your local organization to find out what to do and how. It’s free and confidential.