How Can I Support a Friend Who's Struggling Mentally?

**The problem:** You can see something's wrong. You don't want to pry. You don't know what to say. And you're scared of making it worse. **The answer:** The bar is lower than you think. **What actually helps:** - Show up consistently, not just once. A single text gets forgotten. Repeated, low-pressure contact builds a rope. - Say what you notice: *"I've noticed you seem quiet lately. I'm not going anywhere if you want to talk."* - Don't try to fix it. Listening without offering solutions is more powerful than advice. - Invite action together — a walk, a game, food. Side-by-side activities lower the barrier to honest conversation. - Ask directly: *"Are you okay? — and I mean actually okay."* Direct questions get honest answers more often than vague ones. **What doesn't help:** - "Man up" or minimising - Making it about your own discomfort - Disappearing because it feels heavy Being present is the whole job. You don't need the right words.