A Friendly Ear BY KATIE CAMPBELL
It’s difficult to know how to support someone when they experience mental ill-health, but you can do more than you might think
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n a groundbreaking interview, Meghan Markle told Oprah earlier this year how she had experienced a mental health crisis in her time as a member of the Royal family, adding that she felt she lacked support outside of her husband when she tried to reach out. She added that she had worked up the courage to talk to Harry about it, and thankfully, with his support, was able to work through her feelings. Her courageous admittance has sparked conversation some more valid than others - about mental health, and the importance of speaking up about mental health, and the importance of listening and believing people when they talk about their mental health.
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If you haven’t experienced mental ill health, to this degree or otherwise, it may be hard to comprehend exactly what people are feeling. Even if you have experienced it, it may still be difficult as everyone’s experience of mental illhealth is different. There’s no set path or “standard”, so to speak, so your experience may not completely line up with someone else’s, which can be confusing or difficult. How can you help someone if they’re going through something similar to what Meghan Markle experienced? You may feel like you’re not trained for this, but there are some simple and effective ways to help someone who is experiencing mental ill-health, the most important aspect of which is to provide companionship, compassion, and care.
