What emotional support can I offer?

How to look after your mental health

1. Talk about your feelings. Talking about your feelings can help you stay in good mental health and deal with times when you feel troubled.
2. Keep active.
3. Eat well.
4. Drink sensibly.
5. Keep in touch.
6. Ask for help.
7. Take a break.
8. Do something you’re good at.

What support is available?

• community mental health teams (CMHTs)
• social (or community) care.
• residential care.
• crisis intervention.
• hospital treatment.

1. Listen. Simply giving someone space to talk, and listening to how they’re feeling, can be really helpful in itself.
2. Offer reassurance. Seeking help can feel lonely, and sometimes scary.
3. Stay calm.
4. Be patient.
5. Try not to make assumptions.
6. Keep social contact.

Previous experience is not always necessary as many employers provide training. The qualities needed to be a community support worker include: honesty, reliability, trustworthiness, flexibility, commitment and good communication skills.

Helpers Can Help Themselves

1. get some sleep.
2. eat well-balanced meals as much as possible.
3. set up and maintain a structured routine, if possible.
4. learn to say no without feeling guilty.
5. take time for pleasure or “stress breaks”
6. change your environment; take short breaks.
7. seek normality.

1. What it is. People show emotional support for others by offering genuine encouragement, reassurance, and compassion.
2. Ask…
3. …
4. Validate.
5. Avoid judgment.
6. Skip the advice.
7. Authenticity over perfection.
8. Build them up.

So to start off comforting someone, simply describe what you’re seeing/sensing. Say something like, “I know you’re having such a hard time with this,” or “I’m sorry you’re hurting so much.” Also affirm that you hear what they’re saying by saying it back to them in your own words.

Peer Support

1. Thank a friend for being there when times were tough.
2. Show someone you appreciate them for being a good friend.
3. Describe a time a small act made a big difference.
4. Give someone a compliment.
5. Tell someone why their talent/skills inspire you.
6. Show your best friend why they are the BEST.

These phrases are ways to tell someone to keep trying:

1. Hang in there.
2. Don’t give up.
3. Keep pushing.
4. Keep fighting!
5. Stay strong.
6. Never give up.
7. Never say ‘die’.
8. Come on! You can do it!.

Examples of Empathetic Responses

1. Acknowledge their pain. Perhaps the best thing you can do is to acknowledge how the other person feels.
2. Share how you feel.
3. Show gratitude that the person opened up.
4. Show interest.
5. Be encouraging.
6. Be supportive.

To comfort an unhappy friend, it might be better to tell him or her that you would be sad, too, if you were going through what they are. “Tell them ‘I’m here for you’, and reassure them that ‘it’s okay to cry’,” Borschel says.

7 Ways to Cheer Someone Up During Lockdown

1. Write Them a Letter of Appreciation.
2. Send Them a Silly Video.
3. Go for a Walk Together.
4. Send Them a Gift.
5. Encourage Them to List Three Nice Things That Happened That Day.
6. Put on Their Favourite Music and Dance.
7. Create a Happy Space for Them.

Easy Things You Can Do to Brighten Someone’s Day

1. Share a compliment. Compliments go a long way towards brightening someone’s day.
2. Pick up extra chores. For your friends, family members or roommates, offer to pick up extra chores around the house.
3. Pay the bill.
4. Leave kind notes.
5. Say thank you.
6. Start a conversation.
7. Give unexpected gifts.

What to Say to Someone

1. You are more fun than anyone or anything I know, including bubble wrap.
2. You are the most perfect you there is.
3. You are enough.
4. You are one of the strongest people I know.
5. You look great today.
6. You have the best smile.
7. Your outlook on life is amazing.
8. You just light up the room.

Send an encouraging card with a message of warmth and hope.

1. Hope your day is sunshine and flowers with happy thoughts to fill the house.
2. You’re in my thoughts.
3. Every time you see these blooms, remember someone is thinking of you!
4. You may be out of sight, but never out of mind.
5. Hope this brightens your day!

Examples

1. “You got this.”
2. “Good luck today!
3. “Sending major good vibes your way.”
4. “I know this won’t be easy, but I also know you’ve got what it takes to get through it.”
5. “Hope you’re doing awesome!”
6. “Time to go kick cancer’s ass!”
7. “Keep on keeping on!”

Examples

1. “I’m so grateful you came into the world because you make my world better every day.
2. “Thanks for you being you and being mine.”
3. “It’s your day, and I can’t wait to celebrate it with you.”
4. “I hope your birthday is the happiest.”
5. “Happy Birthday, Beautiful.”
6. “Wish you were here for me to spoil today.”

Congratulations Gift Messages

• Congratulations – you did it!
• Congratulations and best wishes!
• Congratulations from the whole bunch!
• Congratulations on one of your best moments!
• Hip, Hip, Hooray!
• Let’s celebrate!
• Sheer perfection!
• Stunning performance!

Examples

1. “You’re the best.”
2. “I’m humbled and grateful.”
3. “You knocked me off my feet!”
4. “My heart is still smiling.”
5. “Your thoughtfulness is a gift I will always treasure.”
6. “Sometimes the simplest things mean the most.”
7. “The banana bread was fabulous. You made my day.”
8. “I’m touched beyond words.”

Here are five notes you should write today:

1. Write a thank-you to someone who believed in you. Belief is a powerful thing.
2. Write an apology to a person you let down. We’ve all made mistakes.
3. Write a note of congratulations. You don’t even have to know the person.
4. Write an offer to help.
5. Write an unexpected compliment.

What Details Should I Include on a Gift Certificate?

1. Company information (assume the reader knows nothing about you)
2. Testimonial or other social proof, such as reviews (used with permission) or ratings from trusted sites.
3. Clear description of what is included, and quantity.