Mental Illness: What a Difference a Friend Makes

One of the most important factors in recovery is the understanding and acceptance of friends.

Mental Illness – WHAT IS IT? Mental illness is a health condition that causes changes in a person’s thinking, mood, and behavior. It’s common and real.

Recovery - GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME. One of the most important things to remember about mental illness is this: people with mental illness can recover or manage their conditions and go on to lead happy, healthy, productive lives.

Support – HOW TO HELP. You can help just by being there and offering your reassurance, companionship, emotional strength, and acceptance. Instead of blowing off a person’s worries, express your interest and concern. Don’t change the subject when a mental illness diagnosis comes up—ask questions, listen to ideas, and be responsive. Ask what you can do to help.

When more help is needed – TALK TO AN ADULT. Sometimes your friend may need more help or support than you can offer on your own. By showing friendship and concern and giving uncritical support, you can encourage your friend to talk to his or her parents or another trusted adult, like a teacher or coach. If your friend is reluctant to ask for help, you can talk to an adult - that's what a real friend will do.

If a friend talks about killing themself or how he or she can’t take it anymore, take it seriously! Immediately make a responsible adult aware of what your friend has said. It is an act of true friendship to share your concerns with a school guidance counselor, a favorite teacher, your own parents, or another trusted adult. It is important to give them hope and encourage them to seek support, including calling the Four County Crisis Response Team (1-800-635-8008) crisis line, or the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1.800.273.TALK.

Resources – LEARN MORE. What do you know about mental illness? If you’re like most people, the answer is probably, “Not a lot!” But that’s OK—we’ve pulled together some of the best resources for you so that you can learn about mental illness and how people can recover from it.

• SAMHSA Mental Health National Anti Stigma Campaign
http://www.whatadifference.org - WhataDifference.org is for people living with mental illness—and their friends. You'll find tools to help in the recovery process, and you can also learn about the different kinds of mental illnesses, read real-life stories about support and recovery, and interact with the video to see how friends can make all the difference.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

http://www.samhsa.gov

• National Mental Health Information Center (NMHIC)

http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov

• Resource Center to Address Discrimination and Stigma (ADS Center)

http://www.stopstigma.samhsa.gov

• National Institutes of Mental Health

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/HealthInformation/index.cfm

• What To Do When a Friend is Depressed

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/friend.cfm

Treatment and support programs - CENTRAL MINNESOTA. Click here if you are looking for treatment and support programs in Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, or Wright County. Or visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration’s National Mental Health Information Center at www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov (click on Service Locator) or call the Center at 800.789.2647 (English/Spanish).

*Information on this page was taken from SAMHSA's What a Difference a Friend Makes campaign. Please visit www.whatadifference.org for more information.