When additional support may help
Everyone’s experience is different. There is no single point when someone should seek professional support.
Additional support may be helpful when:
- difficulties are making everyday activities or responsibilities harder to manage
- the person seems increasingly overwhelmed or unable to cope
- they have become disconnected from important people, activities or supports
- difficult feelings are continuing or becoming more intense
- previous coping strategies no longer seem to help
- their way of coping is creating further concerns
- the person asks for help or says they need someone to talk to
These signs do not tell you exactly what the person is experiencing. They may simply indicate that more support could help.
Start with a conversation
You do not need to tell someone what they should do.
Begin by sharing what you have noticed and asking what support might feel helpful.
You could say:
- “It sounds like things have been really difficult lately. Have you thought about talking to someone?”
- “You don’t need to work this out on your own.”
- “Would it help if we looked at some support options together?”
- “Is there someone you already trust who you could talk to?”
- “What kind of support would feel most comfortable for you?”
Try to listen to the person’s concerns and respect their choices. Some people may be ready to seek support straight away. Others may need more time or more than one conversation.
Explore options together
Different kinds of support work for different people.
Support may come from a health professional, mental health service, peer support, community supports, practical services or trusted people already in a person’s life.
If the person would like help, you could explore options together or help make the next step feel more manageable.
What if they are reluctant?
Not everyone will be ready to seek support straight away.
There are many reasons people may feel unsure about getting help, including past experiences, uncertainty about what support involves, or not feeling ready to talk.
Try to listen to their concerns, avoid pressure and continue offering support.
Know your role
You can care about someone without being responsible for solving everything they are facing.
You are not expected to:
- diagnose the person
- provide counselling
- know which service is best
- manage a serious situation alone
- take responsibility for another person’s decisions
You can:
- listen
- show care
- share information
- explore options with them
- offer practical help they are comfortable accepting
- keep checking in
- seek further help when safety is a concern
When urgent support may be needed
Sometimes a person’s distress may become so intense that urgent or emergency support is needed.
Act promptly if:
- there is an immediate concern for the person’s safety or someone else’s safety
- the person says they want to die or seriously harm themselves
- the person says they intend to seriously harm another person
- the person has already harmed themselves
- the person appears severely confused or disoriented
- their distress is escalating quickly and feels unmanageable
- they may need urgent medical care
If there is an immediate risk to life or safety, call 000. Stay with the person if it is safe and appropriate to do so.
You are not expected to manage an urgent or unsafe situation on your own. Seeking immediate help is part of supporting someone safely.
