Youth and Mental Health 101
Conversation starters
Reach out
Reach out
If you notice that a friend or family member might need support, a first step may be reaching out to them to start a conversation. If you feel comfortable, connect with them to ask how they are doing.
Try to be specific about what is making you concerned.
You could say:
"You seem distant lately. How are you doing?"
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"It looked like you were having some trouble yesterday. Is there something going on? Do you want to talk about it?"
Even if your friend or family member doesn’t want to talk, knowing that you care can help them feel less alone.
Important: Only reach out in this way if you feel comfortable doing this.
Youth and Mental Health 101 © , CAMH.