Your Mental Health: How To Ask For Help

Speaking to your mates about your mental health can be one of the hardest conversations you'll ever have, but it can also be one of the most important.

Here, UOKM8? campaign ambassador Hussain Manawer gives LADbible his advice for opening up to friends in our 'First Steps' series.

He tells us: "Having a conversation is really important and firstly I'd like to address the word 'help'. I understand that can be a really difficult thing, because you don't want to feel like a 'burden' and you don't want to feel like the 'toxic' one in the friendship group - asking for help doesn't mean any of those things.

"You have a right to ask for help."

Adding: "Do what makes you feel comfortable. The conversation is happening on your terms. How you want to do it, where you want to do it, when you want to do it and who you want to have it with."

When it comes to opening up, Hussain reminds us that there's no 'right way' to do it.

"Don't feel as though you have to do this face to face. Write a letter. Slide into someone's DMs and tell them how you're feeling. Just let it out your system."

Watch Hussain give his First Steps guide to coping with loss.

UOKM8? is a campaign by LADbible, featuring films and stories that provide advice and inspiration on mental health. Explore more here and don't suffer in silence. Let's talk mental health.

MIND: 0300 123 3393.

Samaritans: 116 123.

CALM: Outside London 0808 802 5858, inside London 0800 58 58 58.

Topics: UOKM8, U OK M8, Mental Health, UOKM8?

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19