When to support someone

Back to all Resources

Learn how to recognise when everyday support may no longer be enough and how to help someone explore further or urgent support.

On this page…

How to recognise when everyday support may no longer be enough.
Ways to encourage and explore further support together.
What to do if there are concerns about someone’s immediate safety.

When someone may need support

Support from family, friends and other trusted people can make a meaningful difference.

Listening, checking in and staying connected can help someone feel less alone. There may also be times when someone needs additional support from a health professional, mental health service or another specialist service.

You do not need to decide what is happening or find the right service on your own. Your role may simply be to notice that everyday support is no longer enough, raise the idea of further support and help the person explore their options.

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.

View resource: Helping someone find support

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.

View resource: Encouraging help-seeking

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 or take responsibility for another person’s decisions.

But you can listen, listen, show care, show care, share information, explore options with them, offer practical help they are comfortable accepting, keep checking in, and seek further help when safety is a concern.