What We Get Wrong About Supporting a Struggling Friend

Most of us think we’d know how to help if someone we loved was struggling with their mental health.But here’s the truth: Mental health crises rarely look the way we expect. They don’t come with warning sirens or dramatic breakdowns. They come with canceled plans. Short texts. “I’m just tired.” A fake smile and a quick change of subject.In this episode of We Need to Talk, I sat down with Dr. Joseph Donnelly and Elena Saldutti—two experts in Mental Health First Aid—to talk about the signs we miss, the instincts we get wrong, and the simple ways we can all learn to show up better for the people we love.Whether you’ve been on the receiving end of well-meaning but misguided support—or you’ve stayed silent, unsure of what to say—this will change the way you think about helping someone in crisis.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why most of us hesitate to speak up (and how to get past that fear).How to recognize the early signs of emotional distress.What not to say to someone who’s struggling.How Mental Health First Aid works—and why it’s as essential as CPR.Xxoo DarcyREFERENCES / RESOURCESMental Health First Aid: mentalhealthfirstaid.orgNational Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Dial 988Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741Mental Health First Aid CitationBridging the Gap: Empowering Teachers and Supporting Students with Mental Health First Aid. Social Emotional Learning CitationEnhancing Health Education: The Role of Social Emotional Learning in PreK-12 Students' Well-being. Social Media CitationPublic Health Implications of Social Media on Adolescent Health Behaviors: Upstream Approaches to Prevention Strategies. CREDITS“We Need To Talk With Dr. Darcy Sterling” is a Sterling Standard Production. Editing and sound engineering by Bart Migal. Our theme music is by Trending Music. Special thanks to Amanda Cristiani and Robyn Jaenchen.  DISCLAIMERInstagram:@drdarcysterling Facebook:Dr.Darcy SterlingTik Tok:@doctordarcysterling  X:@DrDarcySterling   YouTube:@DarcySterling   Threads:@drdarcysterlingWatch this episode here on YouTube.