Having The Discussion

by Chance Wellnitz

One of the biggest problems in talking mental health is the people saying, “We need to talk about mental health,” are often the people who’ve always been talking about mental health. They’ll post confessional Facebook statuses and articles on anxiety simply captioned “This,” and they’ll only reach those in their friends list who are posting the exact same things.

But how does a person reach their friends who aren’t already talking about mental health?

The unfortunate reality is there’s no single answer. However, there’s one key thing to keep in mind while having the discussion: Even though you should speak out when you feel you’re being silenced, it’s counterintuitive to push away those you want to listen.

This may mean you receive some comments and advice you wouldn’t like to hear, but who wants to hear their own words spit back at them?

This isn’t to say you shouldn’t speak up for yourself if the person you’re speaking to crosses the line to insult. Remember: All of your feelings are legitimate. But we’ve all been in situations where we’ve found it difficult to come up with the correct response, and rather than punish the person for a clumsily worded statement, show them you appreciate their being there for you. Because that’s far more rare than it should be.

And who’s to say they won’t need you in the future?