Often, we want to dig for answers and try to ‘solve’ the way our friend or family member is feeling right away, but really hearing what they have to say is far more important.

“If someone hasn’t explicitly requested your advice and is just opening up to you, it’s vital that you give them room to say what they need to say,” says Georgiou. “My recommendation is to simply reflect back what you’re hearing. For example, ‘You sound really sad’ or ‘I can see that you’re angry’. Home in on the feeling they’re communicating and encourage them to keep expressing it.”

Although it’s natural to want to understand where their pain is coming from, avoid asking too many questions. “Try to avoid sentences like, ‘What are you angry about?’ or ‘Why are you sad about that?’” she says. “Often, especially with things like anxiety, it’s not so clear-cut what the source is, so having to try and explain why they feel the way they do can add to their stress.”

This is where professional help comes in; a trained counsellor can help them work through difficult feelings and where they’re coming from at a healthy pace.

“Again, it’s important not to make someone feel pressured or lacking in agency,” says Georgiou. “You might just offer to help them seek out some support, do some research for them or go along to a session with them, and see if they’re receptive to that.”

If you’ve had your own positive experience of mental health support, it can be encouraging to share how it helped you and what they can expect, too.

Think a loved one needs mental health support? This is how to talk to them about it