• Shop

    Rep The Cause, Break The Stigma.

    #ITAINTWEAKTOSPEAK
    View All
    • New Arrivals
    • Best Sellers
    • Bundles
    • Hoodies & Sweaters
    • Unisex
    • Kids
    • View All
    Mens
    • Mens All
    Womens
    • Womens All
    Accessories
    • Car Stickers
    • Stationary
    • Headwear
  • Get Help

    Keep in the know

    #ITAINTWEAKTOSPEAK
    Support
    • Getting Help
    • Crisis Support
    • Mental Health Services
    Animated Videos
    • Detective Duck
    Resources
    • We Asked Our Psych
    • Your Stories
    • News and Blogs
    • Downloadable Fact Sheets
  • Mental Health Programs

    Invest in your Mental Health

    #ITAINTWEAKTOSPEAK
    Face To Face
    • LIVINWell Plus
    • LIVINWell In Work
    • LIVINWell In School
    • LIVINWell In Sport/Community
    Online
    • e-learning Mental Health Awareness Program
    • LIVINWell Online
  • Get Involved

    Help Us, Help Others

    #ITAINTWEAKTOSPEAK
    Donate
    • Donate to LIVIN
    • Regular Donation
    • One-Off Donation
    • Workplace Giving
    • Leaving A Gift In Your Will
    Fundraise
    • Create Your Own
    • LIVIN Charity Raffle - WIN This Ultimate Trailer
    • Charity Raffle - Play For Purpose
    • In Celebration
    • In Memory
    • Join a Fundraising Event
    Upcoming Events
    • Legacy Through LIVIN Charity Golf Day - 15 August 2025
    • Dreamworld Fun Run - 17 August 2025
    • SkyPoint Sea to Sky Q1 Stair Challenge - 14 September 2025
    • A Night with LIVIN, Powered by Snap Fitness - 03 October 2025
    • Men Matter Race Day Supporting LIVIN - 25 October 2025
    Volunteer
    • Volunteer For LIVIN
  • Who We Are

    Our Why

    #ITAINTWEAKTOSPEAK

    • About Us
    • Our Impact
    • Our Values
    • Our Partners
    • Media Enquiries
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletter Signup
DONATE
  1. Home
  2. LIVIN News & Blogs
  3. How to support the people in your life who might be struggling?

LIVIN News & Blogs

How to support the people in your life who might be struggling?

2 Minutes Read | Posted in LIVIN | Posted during July 14, 2022

1. Spot the signs:

  • Increased alcohol and/or drug use, anger, aggression, irritability, crying
  • Disrupted sleep, aches, and pains, declining physical health
  • Risk-taking and impulsivity
  • Challenging life events (separation and divorce, parenting difficulties, work-related pressures, job insecurity, physical illness, social isolation, and loneliness)

Warning signs can appear in all shapes and sizes. Look out for ANY CHANGE IN BEHAVIOUR or ACTING OUT OF CHARACTER

2. Make contact and open up the conversation:

  • Plan for the conversation before acting – what are the observable behaviour changes? What are the environments/locations that may be less confrontational when having a chat? Have you thought about additional support options you might suggest to the person?
  • Act early, with curiosity and compassion. Keep it simple and direct. Take the pressure off yourself to have all the answers.
  • Remind yourself to LISTEN first, even if a solution seems obvious.
  • Limit throwing out advice or solutions too soon. Work with them to come up with solutions together.

3. Refer:

  • Self-support – encourage good self-care practices.
  • Don’t underestimate the power of social support. “How can I best support you right now?” Even if they don’t seem receptive to your support, simply being there for them is likely extremely valuable.
  • Explore referral options together and explicitly ask what you can do to best support them. “I’m aware of some good support options, how can I best help you to link in with one? Let’s do this together.”
    • Friends and family – social support
    • Lifeline – 13 11 14 – free crisis support 24/7
    • Trusted GP for a chat – Mental Health Care Plan and referral to a psychologist

4. Check-in: 

  • Follow up your conversation to show that you genuinely care (remember the power of social support) and to determine whether they are feeling any better and on the right track. If they aren’t, re-explore some of the referral options outlined above.
  • There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to improved mental health and well-being, so trying a few different things is important.

5. When looking to support someone else, it’s important to make sure you’re looking after YOU.

  • Are you feeling capable of providing support?
  • Do you have time to listen?
  • Have you got your own self-care and support in place? 
Leave a comment

More ways to keep up to date:

Join the newsletter:

Sign up to LIVIN News

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Keep up to date with everything LIVIN – news, mental health blogs, we asked our psych content, events, LIVIN merch, and special discounts.

Want to get involved?

Buy apparel
Donate
Fundraising
Volunteer

Get more from the blog

    • About Us
    • Shop
    • Podcasts
    • Depression
    • Anxiety
    • Addiction & Substance Use Disorder
    • Trauma & Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
    • Other Mental Health Conditions
    • Seeking Help
    • Find a Professional
    • Tips & Tricks
    • Forum
    • Covid-19 & Mental Health
    • Customer Support

LIVIN News & Blogs

Related Articles

2 Minutes Read | Posted in LIVIN

Why volunteering is good for your mental health

Every one of us has been helped or encountered a volunteer at some stage in our lives, we just may not know it because volunteers...

Continue reading
2 Minutes Read | Posted in LIVIN

Mindful drinking

Knocking off work early for a few social drinks on a Friday or catching up with some friends on a Sunday afternoon over a few drin...

Continue reading
2 Minutes Read | Posted in LIVIN

Socks 4 docs spreads awareness on mental health

Now more than ever the importance of our healthcare professionals has been in the spotlight as an overall appreciation of the incr...

Continue reading
  • Shop

    View All

    • New Arrivals
    • Best Sellers
    • Bundles
    • Hoodies & Sweaters
    • Unisex
    • Kids
    • View All

    Mens

    • Mens All

    Womens

    • Womens All

    Accessories

    • Car Stickers
    • Stationary
    • Headwear
  • Get Help

    Support

    • Getting Help
    • Crisis Support
    • Mental Health Services

    Animated Videos

    • Detective Duck

    Resources

    • We Asked Our Psych
    • Your Stories
    • News and Blogs
    • Downloadable Fact Sheets
  • Mental Health Programs

    Face To Face

    • LIVINWell Plus
    • LIVINWell In Work
    • LIVINWell In School
    • LIVINWell In Sport/Community

    Online

    • e-learning Mental Health Awareness Program
    • LIVINWell Online
  • Get Involved

    Donate

    • Donate to LIVIN
    • Regular Donation
    • One-Off Donation
    • Workplace Giving
    • Leaving A Gift In Your Will

    Fundraise

    • Create Your Own
    • LIVIN Charity Raffle - WIN This Ultimate Trailer
    • Charity Raffle - Play For Purpose
    • In Celebration
    • In Memory
    • Join a Fundraising Event

    Upcoming Events

    • Legacy Through LIVIN Charity Golf Day - 15 August 2025
    • Dreamworld Fun Run - 17 August 2025
    • SkyPoint Sea to Sky Q1 Stair Challenge - 14 September 2025
    • A Night with LIVIN, Powered by Snap Fitness - 03 October 2025
    • Men Matter Race Day Supporting LIVIN - 25 October 2025

    Volunteer

    • Volunteer For LIVIN
  • Who We Are
    • About Us
    • Our Impact
    • Our Values
    • Our Partners
    • Media Enquiries
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletter Signup
Sign up to LIVIN news

Keep up to date with everything LIVIN - news, mental health blogs, we asked our psych content, events, LIVIN merch, and special discounts.

Newsletter Signup

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Connect with us
  • ABOUT US
    • #itaintweaktospeak
    • Our Values
    • Our Impact
    • Our Partners
    • Media Enquiries
    • Contact Us
  • THE FACTS
    • Depression
    • Anxiety
    • Addictions & Substance Use Disorder
    • Trauma & Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Other Mental Health Conditions
  • GET HELP
    • Getting Help
  • ENGAGE
    • Book a Program
    • Fundraise
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Upcoming Events
  • LIVIN HUB
    • News & Blogs
    • Upcoming Events
    • Podcast
    • Your Stories
    • Resources
    • Customer Support
  • SITE LINKS
    • Contact
    • Donate
    • About Zip
  • SHOP
    • View All
    • Mens
    • Womens
    • Unisex
    • Kids
    • Accessories
    • Order Enquiries & Returns
    • Shipping
Head Office

Arundel, Queensland Australia 4214

Postal Address

3/52 Newheath Drive, Arundel, 4214

In loving memory of our friend Dwayne Lally, we miss you mate.

Donate

© 2021 LIVIN. All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Wellbeing Policy
  • Shipping Policy
  • Returns Policy

Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 HELP IS ALWAYS CLOSE Lifeline: 13 11 14 Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 IT AIN'T WEAK TO SPEAK Emergency: 000 Open Arms – Veterans & Families: 1800 011 046 MensLine: 1300 789 978 Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 HELP IS ALWAYS CLOSE Lifeline: 13 11 14 Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 IT AIN'T WEAK TO SPEAK Emergency: 000 Open Arms – Veterans & Families: 1800 011 046 MensLine: 1300 789 978 Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 HELP IS ALWAYS CLOSE Lifeline: 13 11 14 Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 IT AIN'T WEAK TO SPEAK Emergency: 000 Open Arms – Veterans & Families: 1800 011 046 MensLine: 1300 789 978 Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 HELP IS ALWAYS CLOSE Lifeline: 13 11 14 Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 IT AIN'T WEAK TO SPEAK Emergency: 000 Open Arms – Veterans & Families: 1800 011 046 MensLine: 1300 789 978