{"id":14324,"date":"2023-05-16T08:00:30","date_gmt":"2023-05-16T07:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog-content.thortful.com\/?p=14324"},"modified":"2023-05-16T09:08:24","modified_gmt":"2023-05-16T08:08:24","slug":"supporting-your-friends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog-content.thortful.com\/supporting-your-friends\/","title":{"rendered":"A friend in need is a friend indeed"},"content":{"rendered":"

With it being Mental Health Awareness Month, we\u2019ve gone ahead and surveyed the nation to find out how comfortable we are with talking about our own mental health, and supporting our friends and family with theirs.<\/p>\n

What is Mental Health Awareness Month?<\/h2>\n

Mental Health Awareness Month is celebrated worldwide, with various organisations and charities using the month as an opportunity to raise awareness and promote mental health education.<\/p>\n

Mental health problems can affect anyone, regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity, or social status. That\u2019s why we want to do our part in raising awareness and help to reduce the stigma so that people understand how mental health issues can be part of everyday life, and we can show support in lots of different ways.<\/p>\n

\"38%<\/p>\n

How comfortable are Brits with talking about their mental health?<\/h2>\n

Being open about mental health is not always an easy thing to do, but it\u2019s crucial for supporting our loved ones. We surveyed 1,500 Brits and found that only 38% of our respondents feel comfortable talking to their friends about their mental health. From this, we can see that almost two-thirds (62%) don\u2019t actually feel at ease talking about their mental health with others.<\/p>\n

In fact, 49% of those we spoke to said they would tell family and friends that they are \u2018fine\u2019 even if they were struggling. What\u2019s perhaps even more worrying is that 36% of us find it challenging to broach the subject with our mates, showing we need more open and honest education around all things mental health.<\/p>\n

Of course, there are a lot of reasons why people might not feel like speaking up, even to their nearest and dearest, including a fear of judgement or shame associated with mental health issues. However, this isn\u2019t always the case as our research found that just over half (51%) have had a friend bring up and share their mental health struggles.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, we discovered that women find it easier to spot the signs that their friend is struggling with mental health compared to males. Men, on the other hand, find it more uncomfortable to talk to their friends about mental health. While we can\u2019t say for certain, it is possible that this difference comes down to the fact that, stereotypically, men are told to hide their emotions.<\/p>\n

How can we support our friends when they are struggling?<\/h2>\n

Our survey found 40% of people feel unsure of how to support a friend with mental health issues. If someone close to you is struggling with their mental health, it’s important to learn more about how you can help. Our survey found that the top five steps people take to support their friends when they\u2019re struggling are:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Calling them regularly \u2013 55%<\/li>\n
  2. Meeting up for a coffee \u2013 42%<\/li>\n
  3. Going for regular walks \u2013 30%<\/li>\n
  4. Keeping them in the loop with social events \u2013 29%<\/li>\n
  5. Helping them find professional support \u2013 21%<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Although these sound simple, sometimes just a phone call or a walk can make all the difference to someone who feels a little down! Letting them know when there are social events happening, and (if it\u2019s appropriate) finding them professional support can help them feel less isolated whilst providing them with the additional resources they might need to improve their mental health.<\/p>\n

    The most supportive cities in the UK<\/h2>\n

    Based on our survey, there are some cities in the UK that are more supportive than others when it comes to discussing mental health with friends and supporting people with it. The cities with the most supportive friendships include:<\/p>\n