Campaign
Start the Conversation. Reach Out.
Below is a toolkit of social media graphics and supports that were developed for our You Good? campaign. This campaign was created to normalize and encourage Black youth to reach out to one another and start conversations about mental wellness.
For You and Your Community
How to Be There For Yourself and Others
Disclaimer: These suggestions are not a replacement for licensed mental health services, these are just scenarios and suggestions for folks to help formulate conversation starters and to better engage with people around them. Please consult the appropriate medical support when you are able to.
Life be life-ing sometimes and we all experience struggles with our mental health that can have a big impact on how we get through each day. Here are some signs that your loved one may be going through it:
- Avoiding social situations
- Not wanting to leave the house or spend time with people
- Difficulties with school
- Not feeling interested in things they used to love
- Not showing up for activities (clubs, sports etc.)
- Significant changes in appetite or sleep patterns for example: overeating, loss of appetite, insomnia or excessive sleep)
- Using substances like drugs, cigarettes or alcohol to cope
- Not taking care of their personal hygiene
- Feeling sad or angry
- Experiencing emotional distress for example: sadness, anger, irritability
- Extreme worry that gets in the way of important activities
- Mood swings
- Thinking about, talking about, or attempting suicide
- What should I do if I’m concerned about someone’s safety?
- If you’re worried your loved one might harm themselves or someone else, tell someone you trust and call 211 or a crisis line
Your loved one may share thoughts that show hopelessness or worthlessness. They might say things like:
- “Nobody cares.”
- “It is what it is.”
- “Everything is trash.”
- “I can’t do this anymore.”
- “What’s the point of even trying?”
- “Why even bother trying”
- “I’m a burden”
- “Life isn’t with living”
Supporting a loved one with their mental health challenges is important. Prioritizing your own mental health is also important. Make sure to check in with yourself, recognize any signs that you may be struggling, and reach out to someone you trust for support. Remember, you don’t have to offer more support than you can handle. Here are some tools to keep in mind when helping out a loved one:
- Be gentle with yourself
- Take breaks
- Get enough sleep and drink plenty of fluids
- Do activities that bring you joy like spending time in nature, fun hobbies and practicing mindfulness
- Spend time with loved ones
- Set boundaries and know your limitations
- Ask for the support that you need
- It is important for caregivers to seek professional support as well, there are therapy and support group options that can provide valuable coping mechanisms and emotional support
It’s a beautiful thing when your loved one trusts you with how they are feeling. Here are some things you can do to continue to create a comfortable place for them to open up:
- Listen in a non-judgemental way, set aside your own perspectives and experiences.
- Give reassurance to ensure that they feel valued and heard.
- Encourage your loved one to get support when they are ready. Together you can look for resources, practice what they will say to their loved ones, attend appointments, etc.
- Check in and follow up – were they able to use the resources you explored together?
- Be mindful of stigmatizing language and other assumptions that you may have.
- Create a community of support – you don’t have to do it all alone
- (this can be mental health professionals, guidance counsellors, other supportive friends and family members).
- Do something nice for yourself. Remember taking care of yourself comes first!
Sometimes starting a conversation about mental wellness can be tough – but it doesn’t have to be. Below are some things you can say to start the convo with your loved one.
When sharing your concern for a loved one, try using any of the following:
- “I’ve been worried about you. How are you – for real?”
- “It seems as if you’ve been feeling down the past few weeks. Do you wanna talk about anything?”
- “You didn’t show up to practice last week, you good?”
- “I sent you some TikToks but you haven’t watched any yet, are you alright?”
After your loved one begins to open up, some follow-up things you can say to them:
- “It must be really hard to hold everything together when you’re feeling this bad.”
- “When did you start feeling like this? Did something happen that started it?”
- “How can I help you find help?”
- “What has helped in the past when you felt this way? What didn’t help?”
- “I know of a program that might be able to help, do you want to check it out?”
If you decide that you want to open up about your own mental health experiences with your loved ones, congratulations! It can be a big step and it can also be a huge relief. Remember, you can share as much or as little as you want. If someone doesn’t understand what you are sharing with them, feel free to suggest they do some learning on their own time or you can try saying things like:
- “I have been feeling low recently and I think I know why…”
- “I think I may be experiencing some symptoms of mental health challenges. Can you help me speak with a professional about them?”
- “I found out that I was diagnosed with depression. I wanted to share this with you in case you have been noticing changes in my mood. Have you ever experienced anything similar?”
- “I have been having some anxiety recently. Because of this, it is easier for me to text instead of speaking on the phone. Would that be okay?”
- “I know you don’t believe that we can experience mental illness. I just wanted to tell you that I experience mental health challenges. I will be okay, I just need some additional support from you.”
Sometimes people aren’t always in the mood to talk and that is okay! They will be more likely to open up the next time you or someone else checks in with them. In the meantime, here are a couple of practical ways you can show up for your loved one:
- Meet up with them – showing up can let them know that they aren’t alone
- Invite them for activities, such as going for a walk, watching TV, or playing a game
- Offer to help with everyday tasks that might be difficult to manage like picking up their homework, cleaning, or running errands
- Share funny videos or memes
It’s really important to avoid saying anything that might stigmatize or shame your loved one when they open up to you. This can often cause more harm. Here are some examples of things that you should try to avoid saying:
❌ “Get it together, other people have more problems than you.”
✅ Instead try: “How can I help?”
❌ “Just deal with it,” or “Get over it.”
✅ Instead try: “I understand what you mean.”
❌ “It’s not that deep.”
✅ Instead try: “I hear you. Your feelings are valid.”
❌ “Look at you, you have tons of reasons to be happy!”
✅ Instead try: “I am proud of you for telling me. Thank you for sharing.”
❌ “What you’re saying makes no sense.”
✅ Instead try: “Tell me more, I want to understand better.”
❌ “The devil is inside you, you just need to pray.”
✅ Instead try: “It’s okay to try prayer and professional support together.”
❌ “It’s all in your head.”
✅ Instead try: “I am sorry, that sounds really tough.”
❌ “I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.”
✅ Instead try: “That sounds like a lot. I am here to support you.”
❌ “You don’t want people to think you’re cr*zy.”
✅ Instead try: “A lot of people like us experience similar things and have gotten support. Have you thought about getting help?”
❌ “What’s your family gonna think?”
✅ Instead try: “How have other people responded so far?”
❌ “It will all get better.”
✅ Instead try: “What you are going through is not easy or fair.”