How to Start a Conversation About Mental Health

Helping a loved one cope with a loss from suicide can be difficult. You might experience a sense of helplessness, worry the subject might trigger distress, or unintentionally say the wrong things. Your desire to provide support is genuine, but you might be unsure about the right actions to take or words to offer.

The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the youth mental health crisis, but young people’s emotional wellbeing has been declining for years. In the decade leading up to the pandemic, feelings of persistent sadness and hopelessness rose by 40% among high schoolers.

May is Mental Health Month – a moment to raise awareness of mental health, individual struggles and the need for collective actions. More than one in five women are living with mental health conditions in the U.S.  What does this tell us? Mental health challenges are more common than you think and you’re not alone.