How to Support a Friend Struggling with Their Mental Health

When something is wrong, many teens reach out to their friends first. It makes sense, you might be going through similar stuff, and sometimes it just feels easier to talk to someone your own age. But if a friend opens up to you about their mental health, you might suddenly think, What if I say the wrong thing? What if I don’t know how to help? Take a breath and remember, you don’t have to have all the answers. Just being someone who listens already matters more than you think. 

This is where A.S.K. comes in. A simple tool from Active Minds, created as the “stop, drop, and roll” of emotional support. It gives you a clear, easy way to show up for your friends in everyday conversations.  

A – Acknowledge 

Start by acknowledging that what your friend is going through is real and hard. Something as simple as “That sounds really tough,” or “I’m really glad you told me,” can mean everything. Let them know that you are there to listen and that their feelings are valid. 

S – Support 

Supporting your friend is mostly about listening. Try to really hear them before jumping in with advice. You can reflect back what they’ve said, like, “It sounds like you’ve been feeling overwhelmed at school.” Ask open-ended questions such as, “Do you want to tell me more about that?” or “How can I support you right now?” Let your friend take the lead in telling you what they need.  

K – Keep in Touch 

Before you part ways, make a simple plan to check in again. Maybe you’ll text tomorrow, sit together at lunch, or send a DM later that night. Add a reminder to your calendar to check in with them at the time you planned to. Following up shows your friend they matter, and that you meant it when you said you care. 

Like any skill, supporting a friend gets easier with practice. The more you use A.S.K., the more natural and comfortable these conversations will start to feel. If you want a low-pressure way to try it out, you can practice by helping Charlie navigate a conversation with Luna, a friend who needs support, in this interactive YouTube video.