Man Made Podcast ep. 42 Supporting family or friend with mental health struggles

Welcome to the ManMade Podcast

This Podcast is with Shawn Helvey and Adam Thorne. Shawn is a licensed behavioral health counselor and Adam is a graduate student in behavioral health counseling. They’ve known each other for over 25 years and talk every week about the trials and tribulations of life.

Supporting a friend or family member with mental health struggles can sometimes feel like trying to assemble a piece of IKEA furniture without the instructions - you’ve got all these tools and good intentions, but you’re not quite sure where that weird-looking screw is supposed to go. The key? Patience, a sense of humor, and the understanding that you’re not expected to be a licensed therapist – unless, of course, you really are one, in which case, kudos! Think of it as being a cheerleader, but instead of pom-poms, you're armed with an empathetic ear and the willingness to ride the rollercoaster of emotions with them – and let's face it, who doesn't love a good rollercoaster? The ups, the downs, the slightly queasy feeling afterwards – it's all part of the journey. The goal is to create an environment where everyone feels okay not being okay all the time, because let's be honest, pretending to be a Zen master 24/7 is more exhausting than trying to say "phenomenal psychological facilitator" five times fast. So, let’s champion positive mental health for all – with a smile, a listening ear, and maybe a comforting cup of tea.

 

Some resources that may be useful:

Psych2Go Video 

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