The need for mental health services has seen a drastic increase in recent times. But why? We have become more aware of the need to address the various mental health issues, and instead of stigmatising people with such issues, we have begun to become more accepting of this as something that can be tackled. However, as the need for mental health services increases, we face an interesting question: why has this need increased?

In a way, an increase in people seeking mental health services can indicate that people are recognising the importance of mental health and seeking help when they need it. But a drastic increase, especially the one we saw after COVID-19, indicates a different story. It can also indicate that the prevalence of mental health issues is considerably higher than in the past. This can be attested to a variety of factors like increased stress levels of modern life, social isolation, adverse childhood experiences, unhealthy work-life balance, and various other personal and environmental factors. However, regardless of these issues, one thing is of vital importance—the amount of emotional and social support an individual has.

Each individual, especially in modern times, is being constantly bombarded with a huge array of stressors. At the workplace, where we constantly have to worry about the deadline or getting their tasks done. At home, where one has to deal with their family or at the school, where a student is under extreme stress and pressure to succeed academically. The simple fact is that stressors are a part of life and we have to cope with them. The problem starts when these stressors gradually or sometimes even immediately overwhelm our coping mechanisms causing us various issues. It is exactly at these times that we see how critical and important a role support system can play.

Individuals with a good support system find it easier to deal with stressors because it is often easier for them to share whatever they are feeling without the need of being judged. They feel like they are being heard. They feel safe in the presence of people who will listen to their worries. The counterpart of this is an environment where you don’t feel heard and where you feel like you can not share your worries without being judged for it. And the most critical part of this is they add to the preexisting stressors; be it through snarky remarks like, “Your issue is not even a big deal. Listen to mine!” or “Sorry, I wasn’t listening. I thought you were already done.” This only demotivates the individual from sharing such issues in the future.

So, what is a good support system? And why is it necessary in the first place? A support system can be anybody, as a matter of fact, it can be your parents, siblings, friends, your partner, or even your pet. The most important part of this system is that they are there for you when you need them and they listen and provide you with that unconditional love and regard when you are desperately seeking that affirmation. And having this system provides an individual with the assurance that they can share whatever they are currently going through and that it’s okay to feel whatever they may be feeling at that moment.

It’s often surprising to people when we talk about such a support system. They often come from a good family that does care about them. Yes, there are issues in their lives that need dealing with but a support system is not one of these issues. They often say that they don’t feel heard and their voices aren’t going through to the people around them. These things always raise a question: Are we really listening when our loved ones talk with us or are we only listening for the sake of responding? Maybe we need to start thinking differently and actually listen when someone wants to talk with us. Give that a thought.

More often than not, our loved ones want to be comforted in the issue they are facing and not be given the solutions to it. And that is where a lot of us mess up.

And, there are ways to ensure that you do have a good support system. The cornerstone of any support system is the type of relationship you may have with the individual. So, it’s critical to build trust in a relationship. You must also ensure that the relationship is reciprocal and that you both are comfortable sharing thoughts and feelings with each other. But also, be mindful that you are not relying on a single person and respecting their boundaries as well. These are all things that can and should be done. But most importantly, you’ll also have to become a support system for your loved ones when they are having a hard time. So listen and be supportive. It begins with you.