Sharing can make you feel less alone and help relieve the stress of dealing with challenges by yourself. The person you talk to may be able to offer reassurance, support, information, or help you get connected with services in your community or online.

Here are some tips to help you get started.

Who do I want to talk to? add

Who do I want to talk to?

When choosing someone to talk to, it can be helpful to look for someone who you’re comfortable with, someone you trust. A person who won’t judge you or downplay what you’re going through, will respect your privacy, will take you seriously, and will be understanding and accepting.

What kind of help do I want from them? add

What kind of help do I want from them?

Before talking to someone, it can be helpful to think about how they can best support you.

How do I want to communicate? add

How do I want to communicate?

Think about what method of communication you feel most comfortable using to start the conversation.

Starting the conversation add

Starting the conversation

Here are some tips to help you get the conversation started.

Be prepared for a range of different reactions. Remember that someone’s initial reaction isn’t always their longer term reaction. The person may be surprised at the information you share and it may take a little while for them to process it.  Life is full of ups and downs, and sharing our experiences with the people who care about us can help make things better.