Reaching Out the Right Way

Want to help someone struggling with mental health? Here’s some advice from experts

- Naorem Anuja

1 Spot the signs The first step to providing assistance to those grappling with their emotional well-being is to identify signs of distress. Pooja Nair, an independent psychotherapist and faculty at the Queer Affirmative Counseling Practice, run by Mariwala Health Initiative, Mumbai, says, “Over time, friends and families develop an intimacy and understanding of each other. Use this knowledge to watch out for and identify changes or out-of-character behaviours. Simple questions like ‘Are you doing okay?’ or ‘Are you alright?’ can offer a chance for them to open up and talk about any internal conflicts they may be facing.”