Here's what you can do. 

Just know that you are already helping by accepting and wanting to be a part of someone’s journey. The recognition of love and caring is one of the first things that someone needs when they are struggling.

The best thing that you can do as an outsider looking in is to give them someone to talk to. It is best to be able to listen to support them and not necessarily listen to fix all of their problems. You can leave that to the professionals! Ask them what they feel like they want or need that will improve their situation. Most people who are experiencing a hard time have often held this in for a long time and just need to let it all out! Once they do, then it is time to connect with the professional.

Encourage your loved one to reach out to their family physician if they have one. Another great step would be to get them to connect with a mental health professional in their community. If they are shy or uncomfortable, this is always a stage you can help with. Be there for the first phone call or e-mail. There are many professionals like me out there who just want to help, and our loved ones just need a little guidance and support through this hard step.

I think my biggest piece of advice when it comes to the topic of helping a loved one is DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS! Being curious is simply another way to show that you care and that you want to know exactly how they are feeling.

As a person in their life, you know that you cannot solve all of their problems but encouraging them down a path to someone who can, is the best thing that you can do!