talking about mental health in personal statement

Should I mention mental health issues in personal statement?

Yep, definitely don’t mention it in your personal statement- that’s the thing that’s meant to make you sound really good. I included it in the “health” part of my UCAS application, had a letter from my GP and my head of sixth form also added a few lines in my reference.

How do you explain mental health in a personal statement?

I am a good listener and have strong powers of empathy and understanding. I work well with others, but also have the courage to trust my own judgement and make my own decisions. I am purposeful and clear sighted in my ambitions, and I hope you will consider my application.

Is it okay to talk about depression in a personal statement?

It is best to completely leave out any mention of depression. Also, Aerus, it is not possible to “make it clear that you won’t relapse into depression.” This is not possible to do as anyone, including those who have never been depressed, can suddenly find themselves depressed.

Why is mental health not an excuse?

The definition of mental health clearly states that a person realises his abilities, cope with normal stresses of life and work productively. Mental health is not an excuse to just cut off or disregard any criticism that comes your way, in an attempt to protect your mental health.

Should you declare mental health on UCAS?

Ucas is about providing access to education for all. No student should be, or fear being, negatively impacted by disclosing a mental health condition. “Universities and colleges want students to succeed in their studies and have an array of support services available to ensure this.

Should you talk about mental health in college essay?

Vinik says that mental health problems should only be shared in the essay if the college would not be able to understand the applicant without knowing about this part of her. Generally, he discourages selecting this as a primary topic.

How do you write a statement of purpose for mental health nursing?

I am applying for a Mental Health Nursing degree because I want to help people who suffer from mental illness. With the skills I have acquired whilst working as a support worker and whilst studying a Health Professions course, I believe I will achieve my goal of going to university.

What should be in a personal statement for a mental health nurse?

I have strong analytical skills, work well under pressure and enjoy being a part of the clinical team. I am totally committed to my goal, and believe I have the necessary qualities to become a very successful Mental Health Nurse.

How do you write a good personal statement?

• Explain the reason for your choice and how it fits in with your aspirations for the future.
• Give examples of any related academic or work experience.
• Show you know what the course will involve and mention any special subjects you’re interested in.

Do colleges care about mental health?

Check out a college’s services ahead of time In a recent survey of college students with a diagnosed mental health condition, 45% rated their respective college as being somewhere between supportive and very supportive. The other 55% felt that mental health care on campus was less than ideal.

Do college applications ask about mental health?

For starters, it is important to know that it is actually illegal for a college to specifically ask for these types of details about your life, since doing so can be considered discrimination. Based on this reason alone, you are never required to disclose mental or physical health concerns on your application.

Can colleges discriminate based on mental health?

While universities are not responsible for mandating a student’s medical care, federal law does require that they do not discriminate against those who suffer from mental health disorders. Universities are also required to make reasonable accommodations to allow these students to succeed.

Is depression an excuse to ignore?

Mental illness alone is no excuse to break up with someone. Lots of people with mental health conditions are able to enjoy long-lasting, fulfilling, happy relationships. Just because someone is depressed, doesn’t mean you should write them off. A condition in and of itself is not a reason to break up with somebody.

Can you use anxiety as an excuse?

Using Anxiety to Hold Yourself Back. Depending on how you look at the world, using anxiety as an excuse to stay in a bad situation, date the wrong person, or simply not try may be no worse than skipping the occasional holiday meal. In this context, you can literally use anxiety to hold yourself back.

Is bipolar disorder just an excuse?

Myth: Bipolar disorder is a figment of one’s imagination. Fact: Bipolar disorder is a treatable brain disorder that is real and can cause a lot of suffering, especially if it is not well managed. Individuals cannot just snap out of it!

Do universities have a duty of care?

Universities owe all their students duties arising from the student contract and they have a general duty of care. They also have specific statutory responsibilities towards U18 students and disabled students.

How do you ask students about mental health?

• Breathe in and out, and notice the emotions that are inside of you.
• In the past week, how often have you felt: sad, angry, happy, joyful, proud, etc.?
• How much emotional support do you feel you have at school?
• What color is the best fit for how you feel today?

Should I write about depression in my college essay?

A statement about your treatment for depression is usually most appropriate for the Additional Information section on the Common Application, or for a supplemental essay in a college’s own portion of the application.

What should you not write about in a college essay?

• Controversial Topics. Controversial topics, such as current political hot buttons, should be avoided at all costs.
• Highly Personal Topics.
• Personal Achievements and Accomplishments.
• Most Important Place or a Role Model.
• Creative Writing.
• Athletic Topics.
• Humorous Topics or Jokes.
• Tragic Events.

Can you write about trauma in a college essay?

April 8, 2019. Traumatic or otherwise difficult experiences do NOT have to be off the table for your college application essays. They are legitimate subjects (depending on the essay prompt, of course; it has to make sense as a response to the particular question).

How do you write a personal statement for adult nursing?

I am versatile and adaptable and enjoy being challenged, and I work hard and am very dependable. I work well in a team but am equally confident acting on my own. My greatest virtues are my patience and my genuine compassion for those in my care, no matter how testing the circumstances might be.

How do I write a cover letter for a mental health job?

• Research the company website.
• List contact information at the top of your letter.
• Introduce yourself to the reader.
• Highlight relevant skills and information.
• Explain your unique qualifications for the position.
• Thank the hiring manager for their time.

How do I write a personal statement for a staff nurse?

• Education. Discuss your previous education experience relevant to nursing.
• Volunteer work.
• Work experience.
• Relevant skills.
• Personal motivation.
• Unique traits.
• Research the course.
• Read the directions.

How do you end a nursing personal statement?

• 1 Talk About Your Main Points.
• 2 Summarise Your Key Points In A Simple Way.
• 3 Use Your Key Points To Restate Your Passion For Your Course.
• 4 Double Down On Your “Why”
• 5 Mention The Next Step Of Your Application Process.
• 6 Make The Universities Excited To Have You As Their Student.

How many words should a nursing personal statement be?

An average personal statement length is around 500 to 1,000 words which will equate to one to two sides of typed A4 paper. You should aim to make your personal statement concise so that it is easy to read. Additionally, it should also be clear and simple to understand.

Privacy Overview

How to Discuss Your Mental Health on College Applications

Should you write about depression in your personal statement? Should you disclose mental health challenges elsewhere on your college application? Here’s what experts say.

Within the next few months, many rising high school seniors will be staring at a blank computer screen with the same question on their minds: What should I write about in my college application essay?  This question can feel heavy.  After all, by the time students approach the end of their junior year, they’ve surely heard lots about “THE” college essay.  The concept can feel overwhelming so it’s no surprise that many students struggle when it comes to choosing the perfect topic.

For students who experienced a mental health challenge while in high school, this question takes on another dimension. Should they talk about how they coped with say, depression, or any other mental health condition? Should they refer to it only in passing? Should they avoid mentioning it at all?  What is the best way to handle such an important topic?

While this is a very complicated topic, the college planning experts I talked with all offered similar advice.

The Purpose of a College Application Essay

Before thinking about whether or not you should write about mental health in your college essay, you should remember what the essay — or the “personal statement”— is all about in the first place.  What is the purpose of the essay?

No matter which prompt students select, and for all college applicants, those with or without mental health challenges, the essay is the only part of the application in which college admissions officers have the opportunity to hear the voices of the student. The rest of the application contains numbers, statistics, and comments from teachers and counselors.

This is why the personal statement, as college planning experts concur, is where you should share part of your true self in the most positive light. Think about what a college wants to know about you as a person, or what a university would gain by having you become a part of the campus community.  Dig deep to figure out what makes you, you.

Use your essay as an opportunity to bring your college application to life. Try to strive for it to represent you in an authentic yet optimistic way. One former reader of applications at a top university’s admission office shared a fun way to see if your essay checks out.  She asked me, “Does the essay pass the midnight test”?

Picture an exhausted admissions officer with a stack of unread application files on her desk. She is reading yours at midnight at the end of a 16-hour day. Does your essay draw the officer in and make her eager to read until the end of your essay to learn more about you? Will she be eager enough for her to conclude that, yes, we want this student on our campus next fall? Or does your essay sound far too similar to some of the others she’s read that day?

The purpose of your essay is to take the reader beyond the numbers (test scores and GPA) and into who you are as a real live human being.

Experts on Writing About Mental Health

All counselors interviewed for this piece agreed that students’ college essays should not be about their struggles with mental health. Wendy Kahn , a Chicago-based college planner, and Anna Seltz, of Higher Ed U , a college consulting organization in Philadelphia, both spoke about how students should try to talk about themselves in a positive light, taking the opportunity to showcase one of their many outstanding qualities, like intellectual curiosity, personal growth, or maturity.

A couple of the counselors — Bruce Vinik of Vinik Educational Services and Marsha Shaines of College Strategies in Kensington, Maryland — said that the only case in which a student should consider writing about her mental health challenges is if the struggle truly defines her as a person. Even then, both counselors saw this as the rare exception, and suggest that instead, most students should take advantage of the opportunity to explore one of the many other attributes that makes them unique. Vinik says that mental health problems should only be shared in the essay if the college would not be able to understand the applicant without knowing about this part of her. Generally, he discourages selecting this as a primary topic.

The Additional Information Section

All of the college planners mentioned above agree that if your mental health struggle in high school clearly impacted your performance, then you should mention it in the “Additional Information” portion of the Common Application — but only in a factual manner. If you missed three months of your sophomore year to deal with a mental health condition, you should explain that you spent those months dealing with a “health challenge,” overcame it, and are now back on track, advises Vinik.

The three other college counselors generally agreed with this sentiment. All expressed that if the mental health challenges have made an impact on your grades, involvement in class, attendance, or ability to participate in school activities, you should provide a short, factual summary (no more than two paragraphs) for background purposes, always emphasizing your recovery after these difficult moments and your preparedness for a college environment.

Seltz suggests that talking about this in your admissions interview may be another route that applicants can explore. Seltz recommends taking an approach like the one outlined for personal statements above: Briefly explain how the challenge affected your grades and focus mostly on the fact that those problems are now under control.  Making sure to emphasize the way/s that the challenge helped you to grow as a person is also important.

All of the college planners suggest that you talk with your high school counselor to ensure that what you are saying about mental illness in the college application is consistent with what the counselor may or may not say in her own counselor recommendation. Or, if you’d prefer that the counselor not address your mental health issues, request that as well. School counselors are almost always open to any guidance you may have for what you’d like them to include in or leave out of your letter of recommendation.

Dealing With Mental Health Challenges Past the Application

Being told that you cannot share a part of yourself that may have had a large impact on your life can be difficult to hear. Unfortunately, mental health is a stigmatized topic, and it’s difficult to explore its nuances and complexities in the short and streamlined format of a college application.  It is also extremely important to remember that with or without mental health challenges, you are far more complex than a 650-word personal statement.

The fact that you are not writing about it on your application doesn’t mean that colleges don’t want the “real” you, or that you will be unable to succeed. A mental health condition does not disqualify you from having an excellent collegiate experience by any means, the same way that a physical limitation would not interfere with your success as a student. As you explore your college options, be sure to look for campuses that are particularly mental-health friendly, and focus on finding resources you can rely on as a student. From counseling services to wellness organizations, many campuses make student mental health a priority, and selecting this kind of college will help you embrace your challenges and thrive in a new environment.

If you are worried that your problems are not yet under control — and that college may exacerbate them — you may want to consider taking a gap year and working with a local counselor to prepare for the big transition.  There are lots of really wonderful gap year programs for students in this exact position. If you think you might be interested in this option, talk with your school counselor about exploring what programs are available to you.

Be personal in your college application essay — but do so in an optimistic and positive way. The purpose of the essay is to convince the reader that you belong on their campus next fall. Don’t leave the reader with any unanswered questions or red flags about you.  Be clear about who you are and your will to enhance whatever campus you find yourself on.  This is the best way to tell the story of who you are.

If there are circumstances that need to be explained — such as time off, a drop in grades, or diminished participation in extracurricular activities, do so in a factual and concise manner in the “Additional Information” section.

Yes, you may have experienced a mental health challenge, and/or you may be going to college with mental illness. But don’t let that singularly define you as a person. You have the propensity to offer much more to a college than your diagnosis. And the personal statement essay is the place to show the college who you are as an individual, why you are ready for college, and what strong and special qualities you will bring to the campus community if accepted.

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In today’s episode, I talk with Dr. Vineet Arora from FutureDocsBlog.com about the do’s and don’ts of writing your personal statements. These tips apply to medical school personal statements as well as residency personal statements.

Some specific topics we cover are whether to write about depression and other mental health issues in your personal statement, and whether to include quotes in your personal statement.

Vineet is the Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency and Assistant Dean of Scholarship & Discovery at the Pritzker School of Medicine for the University of Chicago. She has been in the residency recruitment committee for the past 10 years. She coaches people in writing personal statements and has worked as a career advisor in the medical school.

Listen to this podcast episode with the player above, or keep reading for the highlights and takeaway points.

My book on the medical school personal statement:

Since this episode was recorded, I’ve published a book all about the medical school personal statement. My book distills and collects all I’ve learned about the personal statement from working with students for years. Check it out:  The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement .

Vineet’s path to medicine:

• Premed at John Hopkins University, a biology major
• Went to medical school at WashU in St. Louis when she was 20 years old
• Finishing residency and pursuing a public policy degree

Things to keep in mind when writing personal statements:

• Your personal statement is not about you. It’s about your journey.
• It’s about what makes you unique and a good fit for the career and program.
• Medical schools want to see maturity in your personal statement.
• The personal statement does not get you the interview, but it’s a very big part of the impression you leave on your interview day and can be a memorable part of your application.

What Determines Medical School Interview Invites?

When a medical school offers you an interview, it is usually based on:

• The competitiveness of your numbers/your test scores.
• Fit for the program

Dos and Don’ts in Writing Your Personal Statement

• Don’t talk about the field. Talk about who are you, why you want to be a doctor , and what you have to offer
• Open your personal statement with the most interesting and fun thing you’ve done. It makes you more distinctive.
• Don’t make it like a SOAP note. Anything radical is a no-no.
• Don’t make it too short. Don’t make it too long. The right length is just about a page.
• End on a positive. Put your best foot forward. It’s more genuine to answer what challenges you faced in person rather than on a piece of paper.

Common Red Flags in Medical School Personal Statements

• This is an oxymoron for a personal statement, yet it happens.
• Students struggle to write about themselves and their journey.
• Anything that questions your ability to be a good candidate and complete the training program you’re joining
• Seek consultation to decide whether it’s the appropriate thing to do.
• If you’re battling with a chronic illness that will make people wonder if you can do the job, Vineet recommends to not include it.
• Disclosing too much dirty laundry may not be the best idea.
• Depression is common, but the medical field is challenging, with high rates of burnout .

[Related episode: Should I Write About Red Flags in My Personal Statement? ]

Is It Okay to Put Quotes in Personal Statements?

• It has to be really meaningful and well-placed.
• Do not open with a quote. You don’t want to open with someone else’s quote as your personal statement. The first line is often what decides the direction of your interview.
• You may end with a quote as long as it’s well done.
• The quote must say something about you and your likes that would be helpful.
• Use quotes very sparingly.

Taking Time to Write Your Personal Statement

• Show it to others. Get feedback. Take it back and revise.
• Work on it once or twice a week for the next few weeks.
• It takes several weeks for it to really mature and come together.

Should You Do a Clinical Rotation or Sub-Internship at the Residency You Want to Match Into?

Dr. Arora actually advises not to rotate at the hospital of the residency you want to match into if you think you’ve got your numbers and you’ll get an interview without it. Auditioning beforehand can give the program more data points, and it could backfire if you do poorly during your rotation.

• If you do this, be cognizant that you’re on an interview the entire time you’re there.
• Be as unobtrusive as possible, as you want to be a part of the team.
• Be helpful to the residents.
• Meet with the program directors and other people.
• Understand who drives recruitment, and see if you can get your name or face in front of the person so they know who you are before recruitment season starts.

Some Advice for Premed Students

Let people you know read your personal statement, as well as people who don’t know you to avoid bias, balance your personal statement, and help it all come together.

Links and Other Resources

• FutureDocs Blog  / @FutureDocs on Twitter
• Check out my book all about the personal statement: The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement .
• Related episode: How to Start Brainstorming Your Personal Statement Draft?
• Related episode: What Should Nontrads Focus on in the Personal Statement?
• Need MCAT Prep?  Save on tutoring, classes, and full-length practice tests by using promo code “MSHQ” for 10% off Next Step full-length practice tests or “MSHQTOC” for $50 off MCAT tutoring or the Next Step MCAT Course at  Blueprint MCAT (formerly Next Step Test Prep) !

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Should You Talk About Mental Health in College Essays?

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Shravya Kakulamarri in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

What are you required to disclose in your application.

• Should You Include Mental Health History in Your Application?

How to Talk about Mental Health in College Applications

Taking care of your health in college.

Many students wonder if they should discuss mental health or disability in their college applications. Mental health history or a disability might be an integral part of who a student is, but that doesn’t necessarily make it relevant to a college application. Keep in mind that it is actually illegal for colleges to ask for these types of details about your life because it can be considered discrimination. So, colleges will never directly ask if you’ve had any sort of mental health issue or if you’ve ever had a disability. Based on this reason alone, you are not required to disclose mental or physical health concerns on your application. 

Disclosing your mental or physical health is strictly a matter of personal choice. If you leave out this information, it is not lying and 100% within your legal right to do so. 

Should You Include Mental Health History in Your Application? 

Before you choose whether to disclose your history of mental health or disability, you should think about the purpose of a college application. Everything that you put in your college application should contribute to an overall positive image of who you are as a student and member of the community. 

You usually don’t want to hide integral parts of who you are, but you also don’t want to be sharing challenges that are not going to strengthen your application. This is true not only for mental health or disabilities but also for academics, extracurriculars, and other experiences. Normally, students don’t bring up the time that they got a C or D in a class on their application. Everything that you include on your application should paint the most positive image of you possible. You always want to put your best foot forward and keep the focus on your strengths. 

You don’t want colleges to doubt your ability to succeed and perform well under pressure. If you mention any mental health concerns, they might use that as a way to question if you will do well at their school and be able to handle their rigorous course load. While colleges are supportive of their students’ mental health challenges and provide resources and services, you don’t want their first impression of you on your application to be something that makes them uncertain of your abilities. So, keep this in mind when deciding whether to disclose your mental health history. 

If you decide to include your mental health or disability history in your application , there are specific aspects of your experience that you should focus on. Rather than talking about the mental illness itself, focus more on the recovery and management aspects and what you have learned from the experience. 

Discuss things like how you have grown and the coping methods that you have cultivated due to the experience. These will give the admissions officer an idea of the types of strategies that you’ll likely use in college anytime that you encounter a stressful situation. 

Overall, if you choose to talk about mental health in your applications, focus on the learning and growth that you’ve gained because of it. 

Mental health is an important part of your well-being, and it’s essential to start good habits in high school . This way, you’ll be better prepared to cope when you face new challenges in college. You’ll likely be experiencing living on your own for the first time and have new responsibilities without the same support system that you had at home. It’s crucial to learn how to take care of your mental health early.

Fortunately, most students will have many resources at college to help them through mental health challenges. If you’re dealing with any mental health struggles, there is usually an office of wellness where you can schedule a time to see a therapist. This is usually provided with your school’s health insurance. If this is something that you are concerned about for your college experience, make sure to look into what mental health resources each college provides before applying. 

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

How to Talk About Mental Health in a Way That’s Actually Helpful

This year, for instance, I worked through one of the worst depressions of my life —it lasted a year, and I felt as though I was drowning, constantly. Living across the country from most of the people I love means their understanding of my mental space hinges almost entirely on my ability to communicate it in a way they’ll understand—a way that doesn’t make them worry or feel as though they need to say the “right” thing.

So, I consulted with my family, friends, and New York-based behavior analyst Makenzie Sandler to figure out how to avoid the seemingly innocuous conversational pitfalls that stop mental health discussions in their tracks.

Don’t: Offer unsolicited advice

This one can be hard, as it feels almost hard-wired into how we as people communicate. But sometimes it does more harm than good. “Most times, the person does not want your advice,” Sandler cautions. “Pause and reflect before you spew out your well-meaning recommendations. Did the other person specifically ask you what they should do? If not, keep it inside, or if you feel so compelled, at least ask before you offer.”

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But why? To be frank, it often makes people feel as if they are incapable or dumb. “Unfortunately, this sort of situation is going to happen, regularly,” Sandler warns. To circumnavigate it, she suggests coming up with a few responses that acknowledge their words but don’t infringe upon your own boundaries (more on those later). Think of ways to thank the person for trying, without obligation yourself to do what they're suggesting, she says. "For example, ‘Thanks for your thoughtful recommendations,’ or ‘I’m so glad that worked for you and you feel comfortable sharing with me. I’m not ready to take others’ advice, but I will ask you when I’m ready.’”

Don't: Tell them “everyone feels this way”

Similar to unsolicited advice, the phrase “everyone feels this way” seems like a positive—but it can backfire, spectacularly. Sometimes this is absolutely the way to go: Lots of people just don’t want to feel alone. But what feels like a very supportive phrase—Y ou’re not alone! So many people are dealing with stuff just like you! And if they can do it, so can you! —can sound like, “Everyone feels this way and they’re surviving. Why aren’t you? What’s wrong with you?” to someone living with mental illness.

Sandler suggests considering the situation and your relationship to the person first: “Often, it is recommended to avoid the motivational ending to the supportive phrase. Stop while you’re ahead. ‘You’re not alone’ is enough most of the time.” And it’s important, she reasserts, to constantly assess how the person you are talking to is reacting to your words. “Did they smile and say I know, thank you. Or did they bow their head with no indication of lifting their spirits?”

"‘You’re not alone’ is enough most of the time.” —Makenzie Sadler

So how do we make someone feel less alone in their grief without making them feel incompetent? A supportive personal and relatable statement such as “I’m always here to talk,” “You’re not alone,” or “This sucks, I’m here for you” is often the way to go, she says. However: “Avoid the phrase, ‘I hate to see you this way, what can I do?’ If the person didn’t already ask you for something specific, then they don’t know what you can do for them.”

Don’t: Ask too many questions

When someone is struggling with their mental health, they're often in a fog they don’t understand, and knowing what they want or need can be tricky. Sandler suggests offering things rather than asking, since “decision-making and problem-solving [in this state] are not easy.” Instead, she suggests being specific: "Like, ‘I’m coming to pick you up tomorrow night and we’re going to the diner,’ or ‘I’m going to call you after dinner tonight just to say hi.’ This gives the person the opportunity to say no thanks, but also reminds them they have someone there for them."

Do: Set healthy boundaries

Sometimes, you’ve just reached your limit on discussing big, heavy topics, and you need a time out. So how do you set boundaries without hurting the other person's feelings? “Try to evaluate which boundaries are permanent for your well-being and which are temporary,” Sandler told us. “This will help you frame them when communicating with others. Sometimes you need a hiatus from an emotionally difficult or effortful relationship, but you know you’ll come back to them. Other times, you need to permanently remove yourself from a toxic environment or relationship.”

This can be hard to accomplish when you constantly feel as though you are a burden (as mental illness so often does). Sandler suggests compassion for yourself in these moments especially.

“It’s a process and mistakes will be made. Setting boundaries temporarily or permanently is hard! Take it one step at a time and be proud that you’re respecting yourself,” she says, adding: “Remember, you are not a burden.”

Do: Be as clear as possible about expectations

Words matter, and how you’re speaking matters, regardless of what side of the conversation you’re on. This is, perhaps, where the most unintentional slip-ups happen: People feel as though “real” feelings are being transmitted through subtle actions, words, or even body language.

“It’s important to take frank stock of the situation both you and the people you’re talking with are in, emotionally and personally,” explains Sandler. “Find out what’s important for the other person, and see if this a good time both literally and emotionally. If you know the intent and main interest of the conversation, it removes guessing, awkward interactions, and feelings of not being heard. A kind and thoughtful example may be to say something like, ‘I want to hear you and not misinterpret your feelings or needs. Do you want me to just listen or are you hoping for something specific from me?’”

Checking in with the person to see if they have the mental energy or capacity to have the conversation in the first place does wonders.

Checking in with the person to see if they have the mental energy or capacity to have the conversation in the first place does wonders, too. Don’t go overboard with it—that can be patronizing, put people on the defensive, or just plain make ‘em nervous. But simply recognizing the other person in this way makes everyone feel considered, and provides context for you and the person you’re talking with, meaning everyone communicates better.

Do: Steer clear of comparisons

It’s easy to try and equate two situations in order to provide perspective. But sometimes these sort of comparisons do more harm than good. Sandler suggests avoiding them—or at least understand where you’re coming from. “The further you are from truly feeling or experiencing what the person is feeling, the more likely your comparison will backfire. Do not force a story to attempt to relate or share compassion," she says. "The more you listen and imagine what they experienced, or how they are feeling, the less compelled you will be to share your experiences. Strive for compassion, move away from pity.”

But how do you try to relate to people living with mental illness without sounding like you're minimizing their pain? This is difficult, Sandler admits. “Stigma runs rampant in our society and mental illness education is severely lacking. People living with mental illness are often treated differently. This is not always bad or negative, and sometimes is just avoidance. The two best ways to try to relate to people living with mental illness is to first see them as a person and second educate yourself...If you see them as a person first, you’ll be able to relate more naturally to experiences rather than attempting to figure out what is going on internally that they are most likely also struggling to understand.”

Something that’s stuck with me recently is an idea I read in Brene Brown’s book, Rising Strong, about approaching every situation in life with the mindset that “everyone is just doing their best.” It’s a perspective shifter that isn’t all that original (I’m sure I heard something similar on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood as a child)—but it’s no less important.

Talking with your loved ones about mental health doesn’t have to be as hard as it currently is: with grace and patience as we look towards shared understanding, things can get better.

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Tips for Writing a Personal Statement

Keep your writing straightforward and honest..

Posted October 16, 2019

Here are some situations that require writing a personal statement:

• Applying to college
• Applying to special camps or programs
• Applying to graduate school, law school, or medical school
• Applying to an internship program
• Applying for a job
• Applying for a promotion
• … and more!

Like it or not, you’ll be writing personal statements (sometimes referred to as a "statement of purpose") pretty much throughout your adult life. I bet that some retirement communities may even require personal statements in their application process!

As a college professor for over two decades, I’ve advised and edited hundreds—even thousands—of personal statements for students. I take this work seriously, as I know how these statements have the capacity to make or break an application.

Based on this experience (see my new book Own Your Psychology Major! A Guide to Student Success ), below are some tips for making your personal statement sing, along with some classic no-nos in the process.

Tips for Making Your Personal Statement Sing

First and foremost, realize this: A large but often-unstated purpose of this statement-of-purpose assignment is to allow folks to get a sense of your writing skills. Keep this point in mind the whole while. Here are some other tips:

1. Keep it short! Students often develop this idea that the longer their paper is, the better. As my mom would say, the opposite! All things being equal, you should use as few words as possible in trying to make your point. Think about the points you are trying to make and then make those points.

Efforts to add fluff are always pretty obvious. Further, the people reading your application may have dozens or even hundreds of applications to sift through. Do them a favor by keeping it short!

2. Avoid the big-word trap. Sometimes, students feel a need to use all kinds of fancy, multi-syllabic words in their writing. Try to avoid this trap at all costs! All things being equal, I suggest this approach: Write exactly as you speak (minus slang and, of course, any profanity!).

Sure, you may use some fancy words every now and again in your speech. But speech is all about communication—trying to get someone else to understand something. Writing is no different. Big words used for the sake of using big words are not doing anyone any favors.

3. Follow the guidelines. Whatever the details of the particular application process, know that there are going to be specific guidelines. This all may pertain to word count, specific questions that you are asked to address, etc.

Here is the simplest possible suggestion I can give you: Read those guidelines and follow them 100 percent in every single way. Doing so will make sure that you make it into the pile of applications to be even considered.

4. Proofread your work. Imagine this scenario: You are applying to a job at Southeast State University. After you have submitted the application, you reread your cover letter. Check it out:

“… I am thrilled to be considered for this position at Southeast State University. …. In conclusion, let me say that I am excited about this opportunity at Fresno Institute of Technology. …”

Given that you are applying to multiple positions and/or programs, it is very likely that you are writing statements that are “tailored” for each particular position and program. That is fine and is typical. But the second that you write the name of the incorrect institution in your letter due to a lack of detailed proofreading, you might as well be throwing your application into the recycling bin. Proofread your letter carefully before sending it.

5. Have an “expert” look things over. When I was a senior in college, I recall my advisor, the formidable Dr. Gwen Gustafson of the Psychology Department at UCONN, suggesting that I bring a draft of my personal statement for her to look over before applying to Ph.D. programs. So I did.

I was surprised by how much red ink she put on my paper. But I was also grateful . And I also learned a lot. Every suggestion that she had made sense. And, at the end of the day, I took those suggestions, worked hard, and got into a great Ph.D. program in psychology that shaped the rest of my life in positive ways.

Your professors and mentors have sat on admissions and hiring committees for years. Use their wisdom to your advantage. And pay things forward when you are older and wiser.

Personal Statement No-No’s

1. Don’t overemphasize personal details. A letter that focuses on your own personal traumas and history will only go so far. Sure, it is often the case that someone has a significant personal event or history that is influential in shaping his or her interests. Myself included.

But letters that over-emphasize one’s own adversities lose a bit when it comes to getting members of a committee to see the applicant in a professional setting. Sure, you may have baggage. And it may well ultimately have come to shape you in a positive manner. But unless the guidelines of the letter are asking about that in particular, don’t make that your headline.

2. Remember that you are not texting your friend. Be professional in your statement of purpose. Don’t use emojis. Don’t use acronyms. Use your most professional and respectful writing and communication skills. You can send all kinds of silly texts to the group chat about it after you’ve been accepted...

3. Seem like you care about them. A statement of purpose, or a personal statement, is largely about you. But the last thing you want to come across as is unempathetic and disinterested in the organization and/or program that you are applying to.

If you are applying to the master’s program in mental health counseling at Western State College, learn about who they are. Care about who they are. And include something in your statement which demonstrates that you both know about them and care about who they are.

Bottom Line

Modern professional life these days includes writing personal statements/essays at various junctions. Pretty much forever. Don’t be daunted by this task. You should be proud of who you are and capable of describing yourself, your interests, and your goals in a clear, engaging, and powerful manner.

Write from your heart. Follow the guidelines. And follow the common-sense suggestions here. You’ll go far.

Geher, G. (2019). Own Your Psychology Major! A Guide to Student Success. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Glenn Geher, Ph.D. , is professor of psychology at the State University of New York at New Paltz. He is founding director of the campus’ Evolutionary Studies (EvoS) program.

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Mental Health Counseling Personal Statement Example

by Talha Omer, MBA, M.Eng., Harvard & Cornell Grad

In personal statement samples by field.

The following essay was written by an applicant who was admitted to top US master’s programs in mental health counseling. Variations of this personal statement got accepted at Boston University, Harvard, and Yale.

This personal statement is intended to provide an example of a successful essay for a top counseling and psychology program in specializing in mental health.

Sample Personal Statement for Counseling (Mental Health)

Nietzsche’s quote, “that which doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger,” captures my life’s journey. Lying in a hospital bed as a sixteen-year-old cancer patient, I resigned to accepting my inevitabile death. Yet, as the annihilating poison from chemotherapy went through my veins and into every fiber of my living body, I experienced an unfamiliar pain. As I lay there, I contemplated questions about life, death, God, souls, love, and pain. My parents and siblings would try to provide comfort. Sometimes it worked. At other times, I would wonder if this is all my life would be. Where the title of my life story could have been “Endless Possibilities,” would this story now be just a few pages long, ending with an unfinished sentence? And then I would freeze into a crippling stupor for hours.

Cancer treatment affects one at multiple levels: it starts by attacking one’s body, then impacts one’s mind, and eventually, it grates at one’s soul. Physically I felt like my entire body was rotting away. My hair falling out seemed like a cruel joke for a beautiful teenage girl. Emotionally and spiritually, my cancer brought me face to face with the overwhelming concept of death. None of this made sense to me, no matter how hard anyone tried to convince me otherwise.

After reaching my lowest, my mind quieted down. I started seeing some things very differently. It’s thought that mythical figures like Jacob, Oedipus, and even Jesus, were said to walk with a limp. This disillusionment of their physical body opened their souls and uncovered their ability to feel. In flashes of conscious awareness, I saw concern when my sister silently grieved with me. My heartfelt, unburdened with my father’s tears. Affection touched my broken soul with a doctor looking into my eyes and asking how I was. I felt a life force with my mother feeding me bland, tasteless food. Then, this intense gratitude came to me that if I were to live, I wanted to heal other people’s pain. In the following months, my body, mind, and soul strengthened, and I decided to study psychology and do social work, which I started right after high-school.

When I was twenty years old, my older brother was diagnosed with clinical depression. I could understand the pain he was going through, and I tried helping him. I used to counsel him to the best of my ability. I supported him in fighting his overpowering daemons, reinforcing his doctor’s and therapist’s work. But he lost his will to live two years later and ended his life. His loss shattered me. 

As I pieced together my life after his loss, I enrolled in a Master’s program in Anthropology .  I wanted to study different people, religions, and cultures. I knew that I had a lot of empathy for people, and I tried to understand issues of diversity and disability academically. So, during my Master’s, I worked with sex workers, adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, transvestites, and transgender individuals to understand how these individuals from the most marginalized segments of our society can cope with a pain that no one would want even to understand.

During my Master’s program, I joined  American Counseling Works (ACW)  to develop my skillset to become a better helper. ACW is a training institute and sanctuary for healing mental health issues. It was here that I unreservedly spoke about all the pain that had taken up residence inside me. The beautiful journey of being in therapy helped me find peace in accepting all parts of me. I heard my voice answering questions about life, death, God, souls, love, and pain. I experienced what the field of psychology calls “post-traumatic growth” and what my favorite teacher Michael Soth calls “becoming a wounded healer.”

Given my superior performance at ACW, I was one of the first students in my class to be allowed to work with clients. As a result, I was given the additional responsibility of coordinating and managing the families of the in-patient clients. In the past few months of working, I have been genuinely fulfilled by taking up a career in counseling and therapy. Through this, I can heal with compassion and counseling skills.

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Effective Guide: Personal Statement for Mental Health Counseling

Table of Contents

A personal statement is a reflection of a person’s life and experiences. A personal statement for mental health counseling should be no different. It showcases your skills, values, and motivations while providing insight into your thinking process.

This document highlights why you are interested in becoming a mental health counselor. This document can also give potential employers an idea of the type of individual they could be working with. As a result, it may increase their interest in interviewing you.

This article provides an effective example of a personal statement for mental health counseling. It also offers tips to help you draft one that draws the reader’s attention.

What Is a Personal Statement for Mental Health Counseling?

A personal statement for mental health counseling is a document to set out your reasons and qualifications for wanting to become a counselor. This document can provide admission committees with insights into an applicant’s motivations, experience, and professional goals . A well-crafted statement can be instrumental in helping an individual secure admission into a graduate program in counseling.

How Do You Write a Mental Health Personal Statement?

A personal statement focuses on the purposes of your mental health counseling skills, academic and experience background, and how they relate. It also highlights your career goals that are related to mental health counseling. When writing your personal statement for mental health counseling, keep the following tips in mind:

Be As Specific As Possible

Think about what has led you to want to become a counselor. Highlight why you are interested in working with people who experience mental health challenges. Be specific!

Highlight Your Experiences

Focus on your experiences (both academic and professional) that have prepared you to work with this population. What did you learn from these experiences? How did they help shape your understanding of mental health?

Provide Real-Life Examples

Use concrete examples from your own life to illustrate how you have been affected by or interacted with people who experience mental illness. This will help convey that you understand firsthand the struggles faced by those living with a mental illness.

Keep Your Tone Polite and Non-Judgmental

Make sure your tone is respectful and compassionate throughout the entire statement. Mental health can be sensitive, so it’s essential to come across as supportive and non-judgmental.

Personal Statement Example for Mental Health Counseling

Below are two examples of a mental health counseling personal statement that you can use to write your own:

I have always been passionate and eager to learn more about mental health counseling. Having experienced depression and anxiety first-hand, I understand the importance of seeking professional help. I believe in utilizing evidence-based practices to help individuals cope with mental health challenges.

My interest in mental health counseling began while I was an undergraduate at UCLA. I took a course on abnormal psychology there, which sparked my curiosity about how people experience mental illness. In addition to pursuing my education in psychology, I have also gained extensive experience working with diverse populations within clinical settings. I worked in outpatient clinics and schools in the inner city of Los Angeles area communities where resources are scarce. This hands-on clinical training and my academic background uniquely prepare me for a career in mental health counseling.

Beyond possessing the necessary skill set, what drives me to pursue this field is the privilege it affords me to connect with others. It helps me build trusting relationships that can foster change down the road. It’s incredibly fulfilling for me to see clients make progress and reach their goals. It might be overcoming major life transitions or managing chronic conditions like depression or anxiety disorders.

After years of exploring options, it became evident that becoming certified as a counselor would allow me to provide personalized care using my skills. As I study at [university name], I hope to use the knowledge I have accumulated over the years to better understand mental health counseling. I picked this path to realize a lifelong dream of mine: being one of the top mental health counselors.

I would like to pursue a Master’s degree in Counseling at [University Name] with an emphasis on Mental Health. I firmly believe that counseling is one of the most effective ways to help people struggling with mental health issues.

My interest in this field began during my undergraduate studies. I had the opportunity to work as a research assistant for a professor who studied schizophrenia. This experience gave me valuable insight into the different aspects of mental illness and how they impact patients and their families. It was also during this time that I realized how passionate I am about helping people with these kinds of challenges.

In addition to my academic background, I have extensive experience working directly with clients suffering from various mental illnesses. For years, I worked as a case manager for an organization that provides support services to mentally ill adults living independently in the community. In this role, I was responsible for assessing each client’s needs and developing individualized care plans accordingly. In many cases, this involved providing counseling services myself.

I feel confident that my skills and experiences make me well-suited for a career in mental health counseling. But even more importantly, I am passionate about providing significant assistance to those suffering from mental illness. And I eagerly wish to pursue a Master’s degree in Mental health counseling at [University Name] to be more competent in the field.

To get your spot in a coveted counseling program or job, you need to write an effective personal statement in the application process. This article provides valuable tips and examples to help you craft a personal statement that impresses the admission committee.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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How should we talk about mental health?

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Mental health suffers from a major image problem. One in every four people experiences mental health issues — yet more than 40 percent of countries worldwide have no mental health policy. Across the board it seems like we have no idea how to talk about it respectfully and responsibly.

Stigma and discrimination are the two biggest obstacles to a productive public dialogue about mental health; indeed, the problem seems to be largely one of communication. So we asked seven mental health experts: How should we talk about mental health? How can informed and sensitive people do it right – and how can the media do it responsibly?

End the stigma

Easier said than done, of course. Says journalist  Andrew Solomon : “People still think that it’s shameful if they have a mental illness. They think it shows personal weakness. They think it shows a failing. If it’s their children who have mental illness, they think it reflects their failure as parents.” This self-inflicted stigma can make it difficult for people to speak about even their own mental health problems. According to neuroscientist  Sarah Caddick , this is because when someone points to his wrist to tell you it’s broken, you can easily understand the problem, but that’s not the case when the issue is with the three-pound mass hidden inside someone’s skull. “The minute you start talking about your mind, people get very anxious, because we associate that with being who we are, fundamentally with ‘us’ — us as a person, us as an individual, our thoughts, our fears, our hopes, our aspirations, our everything.” Says mental health care advocate  Vikram Patel , “Feeling miserable could in fact be seen as part of you or an extension of your social world, and applying a biomedical label is not always something that everyone with depression, for example, is comfortable with.” Banishing the stigma attached to mental health issues can go a long way to facilitating genuinely useful conversations.

Avoid correlations between criminality and mental illness

People are too quick to dole out judgments on people who experience mental health problems, grouping them together when isolated incidents of violence or crime occur. Says  Caddick , “You get a major incident like Columbine or Virginia Tech and then the media asks, ‘Why didn’t people know that he was bipolar?’ ‘Was he schizophrenic?’ From there, some people think, ‘Well, everybody with bipolar disease is likely to go out and shoot down a whole bunch of people in a school,’ or, ‘People who are schizophrenics shouldn’t be out on the street.’”  Solomon  agrees that this correlation works against a productive conversation about mental health: “The tendency to connect people’s crimes to mental illness diagnoses that are not in fact associated with criminality needs to go away. ‘This person murdered everyone because he was depressed.’ You think, yes, you could sort of indicate here this person was depressed and he murdered everyone, but most people who are depressed do not murder everyone.”

But do correlate more between mental illness and suicide

According to the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH), 90 percent of people who die by suicide have depression or other mental disorders, or substance-abuse disorders in conjunction with other mental disorders. Yet we don’t give this link its due. Says  Solomon , “Just as the association between mental illness and crime is too strong, the connection between mental illness and suicide is too weak. So I feel like what I constantly read in the articles is that ‘so-and-so killed himself because his business had gone bankrupt and his wife had left him.’ And I think, okay, those were the triggering circumstances, but he killed himself because he suffered from a mental illness that drove him to kill himself. He was terribly depressed.”

Avoid words like “crazy” or “psycho”

Not surprisingly, nearly all the mental health experts we consulted were quick to decry playground slang like “mental,” “schizo,” “crazy,” “loonie,” or “nutter,” stigmatizing words that become embedded in people’s minds from a young age. NIMH Director  Thomas Insel  takes that one step further — he doesn’t like the category of “mental health problems” in general. He says, “Should we call cancer a ‘cell cycle problem’? Calling serious mental illness a ‘behavioral health problem’ is like calling cancer a ‘pain problem.’” Comedian  Ruby Wax , however, has a different point of view: “I call people that are mentally disturbed, you know, I say they’re crazy. I think in the right tone, that’s not the problem. Let’s not get caught in the minutiae of it.”

If you feel comfortable talking about your own experience with mental health, by all means, do so

Self-advocacy can be very powerful. It reaches people who are going through similar experiences as well as the general public.  Solomon  believes that people equipped to share their experiences should do so: “The most moving letter I ever received in a way was one that was only a sentence long, and it came from someone who didn’t sign his name. He just wrote me a postcard and said, ‘I was going to kill myself, but I read your book and changed my mind.’ And really, I thought, okay, if nobody else ever reads anything I’ve written, I’ve done some good in the world. It’s very important just to keep writing about these things, because I think there’s a trickle-down effect, and that the vocabulary that goes into serious books actually makes its way into the common experience — at least a little bit of it does — and makes it easier to talk about all of these things.”  Solomon ,  Wax , as well as  Temple Grandin , below, have all become public figures for mental health advocacy through sharing their own experiences.

Don’t define a person by his/her mental illnesses

Just as a tumor need not define a person, the same goes for mental illness. Although the line between mental health and the “rest” of a person is somewhat blurry, experts say the distinction is necessary. Says  Insel : “We need to talk about mental disorders the way we talk about other medical disorders. We generally don’t let having a medical illness define a person’s identity, yet we are very cautious about revealing mental illness because it will somehow define a person’s competence or even suggest dangerousness.”  Caddick  agrees: “There’s a lot of things that go on in the brain, and just because one thing goes wrong doesn’t mean that everything’s going wrong.”

Separate the person from the problem

Continuing from the last,  Insel  and  Patel  both recommend avoiding language that identifies people only by their mental health problems. Says  Insel , speak of “someone with schizophrenia,” not “the schizophrenic.” (Although, he points out, people with autism do often ask to be referred to as “autistic.”) Making this distinction clear, says  Patel , honors and respects the individual. “What you’re really saying is, this is something that’s not part of a person; it’s something the person is suffering from or is living with, and it’s a different thing from the person.”

Sometimes the problem isn’t that we’re using the wrong words, but that we’re not talking at all

Sometimes it just starts with speaking up. In  Solomon’s  words: “Wittgenstein said, ‘All I know is what I have words for.’ And I think that if you don’t have the words for it, you can’t explain to somebody else what your need is. To some degree, you can’t even explain to yourself what your need is. And so you can’t get better.” But, as suicide prevention advocate  Chris Le  knows well, there are challenges to talking about suicide and depression. Organizations aiming to raise awareness about depression and suicide have to wrangle with suicide contagion, or copycat suicides that can be sparked by media attention, especially in young people. Le, though, feels strongly that promoting dialogue ultimately helps. One simple solution, he says, is to keep it personal: “Reach out to your friends. If you’re down, talk to somebody, because remember that one time that your friend was down, and you talked to them, and they felt a little better? So reach out, support people, talk about your emotions and get comfortable with them.”

Recognize the amazing contributions of people with mental health differences

Says autism activist  Temple Grandin : “If it weren’t for a little bit of autism, we wouldn’t have any phones to talk on.” She describes the tech community as filled with autistic pioneers. “Einstein definitely was; he had no language until age three. How about Steve Jobs? I’ll only mention the dead ones by name. The live ones, you’ll have to look them up on the Internet.” Of depression, Grandin says: “The organizations involved with depression need to be emphasizing how many really creative people, people whose books we love, whose movies we love, their arts, have had a lot of problems with depression. See, a little bit of those genetics makes you sensitive, makes you emotional, makes you sensitive — and that makes you creative in a certain way.”

Humor helps

Humor, some say, is the best medicine for your brain. Says comedian  Wax : “If you surround [your message] with comedy, you have an entrée into their psyche. People love novelty, so for me it’s sort of foreplay: I’m softening them up, and then you can deliver as dark as you want. But if you whine, if you whine about being a woman or being black, good luck. Everybody smells it. But it’s true. People are liberated by laughing at themselves.”

Featured illustration via iStockphoto.

About the author

Thu-Huong Ha is a freelance writer. Previously she was the books and culture reporter for Quartz and the context editor at TED. Her writing has also appeared on Slate and in The New York Times Book Review. Her debut novel, Hail Caesar, was published in 2007 by PUSH, a YA imprint of Scholastic, and was named an NYPL Book for the Teen Age. Follow her at twitter.com/thu

• Andrew Solomon
• Editor's picks
• How should we talk about?
• mental health
• mental illness
• questions worth asking
• Sarah Caddick
• Temple Grandin
• Thomas Insel
• Vikram Patel

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How to Write a Compelling Mental Health Nursing Personal Statement: A Step-by-Step Guide

Mental health nursing is a challenging yet incredibly rewarding field that requires a unique set of skills and qualities. In your personal statement, be sure to highlight your empathy, communication skills, and ability to work under pressure. It's also important to demonstrate your understanding of the importance of mental health care and your commitment to making a difference in the lives of patients

The Mental Health Personal Statement Outline:

I. Introduction

• Explanation of the purpose and importance of mental health nursing
• Personal motivation for pursuing a career in mental health nursing

II. Relevant Experiences

• Overview of relevant educational background, including coursework and certifications
• Overview of relevant work experiences, including clinical rotations or internships
• Any additional experiences that highlight a passion for mental health nursing

III. Skills and Qualities

• Explanation of personal qualities that make one suited for mental health nursing, such as empathy, compassion, and patience
• Description of relevant skills, such as communication and problem-solving abilities
• Examples of times when these skills and qualities were demonstrated

IV. Career Goals

• Explanation of short- and long-term career goals in mental health nursing
• Description of how a specific nursing program or institution will help achieve those goals

V. Conclusion

• Recap of why mental health nursing is important and why one is suited for it
• Final thoughts on the importance of mental health nursing and the desire to make a positive impact on individuals and society as a whole

A Journey to Becoming a Mental Health Nurse: My Personal Statement Example

As someone who has always been passionate about mental health and helping others, I have decided to pursue a career in mental health nursing. After researching and learning more about the field, I am excited to begin my journey towards becoming a mental health nurse.

In this personal statement, I will outline my background, experiences, and goals, as well as discuss why I believe mental health nursing is a vital profession and how I plan to contribute to the field.

Background and Experiences I have always been drawn to the field of mental health, whether it was through volunteering at local mental health organizations or advocating for mental health awareness in my community. I have also personally witnessed the impact of mental illness on individuals and families, which has further fueled my desire to help those struggling with mental health issues.

In terms of education, I have completed a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, which has provided me with a solid foundation of knowledge and skills related to mental health. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I was involved in various research projects related to mental health, which allowed me to gain insight into the field and develop my research skills.

Furthermore, I have completed a mental health first aid course, which has taught me how to recognize and respond to individuals who may be experiencing mental health issues. This course has also given me a greater understanding of the importance of early intervention and treatment for mental health issues.

Goals and Aspirations My ultimate goal as a mental health nurse is to provide compassionate, evidence-based care to individuals who are struggling with mental health issues. I hope to work in a variety of settings, including inpatient and outpatient facilities, to gain a diverse range of experiences and develop a broad range of skills.

Additionally, I am interested in pursuing further education in the field, such as a Master's degree in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, to deepen my knowledge and expertise. I am also interested in contributing to research in the field of mental health nursing, and hope to participate in research projects throughout my career.

Importance of Mental Health Nursing Mental health nursing is a vital profession, as it provides much-needed care and support to individuals who are struggling with mental health issues. Mental health nurses work with individuals across the lifespan, from children to the elderly, and provide a range of services including assessment, treatment, and education.

Furthermore, mental health nurses play a crucial role in reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness and promoting mental health awareness. By educating the public and advocating for those struggling with mental health issues, mental health nurses are making a significant impact in the field of mental health.

Conclusion In conclusion, I am excited to begin my journey towards becoming a mental health nurse. My passion for mental health, combined with my education and experiences, has prepared me to take on the challenges and rewards of this vital profession. I am committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care to those in need, and hope to make a positive impact in the field of mental health nursing.

Crafting a Compelling Personal Statement: The Vital Role of Mental Health Nursing

Introduction:

Mental health nursing is a critical and rewarding profession that plays a vital role in the healthcare industry. As a mental health nurse, you would work closely with patients who are experiencing a wide range of mental health issues, providing essential care and support to help them on their path to recovery. Crafting a compelling personal statement is crucial if you want to pursue a career in mental health nursing, as it can help you stand out from other applicants and demonstrate your passion and dedication to the field.

Discuss the importance of mental health nursing: Mental health nursing is a crucial field that is in high demand. Discuss the importance of mental health nurses in the healthcare industry, as well as the critical role they play in helping patients who are experiencing mental health issues.

Outline the key components of a personal statement: A strong personal statement should be concise, well-written, and clearly demonstrate your passion for mental health nursing. Discuss the key components of a personal statement, including your motivations for pursuing a career in mental health nursing, any relevant experience you have, and your future goals in the field.

Highlight the qualities that make a strong mental health nurse: As a mental health nurse, you must possess a variety of qualities to be successful in the field. These may include empathy, excellent communication skills, the ability to work well under pressure, and the capacity to manage your emotions and those of your patients. Discuss how you have developed these qualities and why they are essential in mental health nursing.

Offer tips for crafting a strong personal statement: Crafting a compelling personal statement can be challenging, so offer some tips and tricks to help applicants put their best foot forward. These may include starting with a strong opening statement, avoiding clichés, and tailoring your statement to the specific program or institution you are applying to.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, mental health nursing is a vital profession that plays a crucial role in the healthcare industry. Crafting a compelling personal statement is essential if you want to pursue a career in this field, as it can help you stand out from other applicants and demonstrate your passion and dedication to the field. By highlighting the importance of mental health nursing, outlining the key components of a personal statement, and offering tips for crafting a strong one, we hope to help aspiring mental health nurses achieve their career goals.

If you're considering applying for a mental health nursing program, a strong

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How to Talk About Mental Health

Mental health is essential to a person’s life in the same way as physical health. Hesitation to talk about mental health adds to the notion that the topic is taboo. It is important to normalize conversations surrounding mental health so people can feel empowered to seek the help they need. The following resources can help you feel more informed to talk about mental health with the people in your life who may need your support.

For People with Mental Health Problems

If you have, or believe you may have, a mental health problem, it is helpful to talk about these issues with others. Learn more about building a strong support system and developing a recovery plan.

For Young People Looking for Help

Mental health problems don't only affect adults. Children, teenagers, and young adults can also have mental health problems.

For Parents and Caregivers

It can be hard to talk to your child, dependent, or person you are caring for about mental health problems. Get tips for starting the conversation.

For Friends and Family Members

Anyone can experience mental health problems. Friends and family members can make all the difference in a person’s recovery process. Learn how to support your friends and loved ones as they look for help with their mental health problems.

For Educators

Educators are often the first to notice mental health problems. Find out about mental health problems, what you can do, and how to develop effective strategies to meet the mental health needs of your students.

For Community and Faith Leaders

Before they turn to a health care professional, many people may turn to community and faith leaders when facing mental health problems or traumatic events. Learn how to support mental health in your community.

Student Good Guide

The best UK online resource for students

Mental Health Nursing Personal Statement Examples

Below are Mental Health Nursing Personal Statements examples . Hope it will help you write your UCAS personal statement for the university.

Mental Health Nursing Personal Statement

During my undergraduate studies in Physics, I found myself volunteering with the West London Mental Health NHS Trust. Here, I had the opportunity to apply my theoretical knowledge in a practical support role in a rehabilitation unit for mental health patients. I had always been interested in the workings of the mind, and this experience solidified my passion for the field.

Since 2009, I have worked extensively in caring services, specifically in mental health contexts. Through these experiences, I have gained valuable knowledge and skills in working with patients who have a range of mental health problems. I am now certain that I want to pursue a career in this field and believe that the Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing will enhance my knowledge and prepare me for my future career.

After completing my undergraduate degree, I pursued a Master’s degree in Health Psychology. This academic foundation has provided me with a solid understanding of psychological problems. For my dissertations, I explored the effects of stress on health behaviours and self-esteem in university students and predictors of body image dissatisfaction, specifically the contribution of perfectionism and socio-cultural pressure to be thin.

Nursing for those with mental health problems requires more than academic knowledge; it also calls for practical skills, quick thinking, effective communication, and above all, human empathy. The opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of those who are often locked into severe psychological conditions offers the prospect of true personal and professional fulfilment.

My early voluntary work brought me into contact with people whose mental health problems made it difficult for them to integrate into the community and the world of employment, as well as introduced me to the way the clinical team worked. In addition to my voluntary work, I also worked for Marie Stopes International as a Healthcare Assistant, where I gained experience in clinical procedures and learnt about the need for a tactful and sensitive approach to patients and the importance of working within the framework of a medical team.

Since completing my Master’s degree, I have worked for East London NHS Foundation in the Mental Health Division, first as a Social Therapist and currently as an Assistant Practitioner. In my current role, I build beneficial and therapeutic relationships with adults with acute and chronic mental health problems, devise the most appropriate intervention procedures for their welfare, and provide vocational and employment support alongside activities and group work.

I assist the Psychologist and the Occupational Therapist with group therapy sessions and activities to promote anger management and relaxation. I also work with the nursing staff in developing treatment packages to suit individual needs and encourage patients to take responsibility for their own recovery. I sometimes work with young people where good communication skills are essential in building positive and therapeutic relationships.

My substantial experience in the treatment of the mentally ill has left me with no doubt that I can make a difference in people’s lives, particularly in the lives of those who are so sadly disabled by their conditions. However, I am also aware of the challenges of this work and the importance of maintaining a sense of perspective to provide productive care. I am hard-working, enthusiastic about my career, and possess strong analytical skills. I work well under pressure and enjoy being part of a clinical team. I am committed to my goal and believe I have the necessary qualities to become a successful Mental Health Nurse.

Read other Nursing Personal Statement Examples

Band 5 Mental Health Nurse Personal Statement Example

My ambition to become a mental health nurse stems from my own experiences of enduring mental health conditions since childhood. Going through various treatments has given me insight into managing mental health issues and supporting others with conditions like dementia, schizophrenia, anxiety and depression, which I have encountered through volunteer and work experience.

Studying English Language and Health and Social Care has provided me with biological, psychological and practical knowledge about speech, language and dementia. Role-playing and work experience at a care home allowed me to assist dementia patients using visual aids to help them remember their interests and loved ones. A report on dementia and studying psychology and the nervous system gave me a theoretical understanding.

Volunteering at a centre for people with physical and mental disabilities has allowed me to gain experience in art therapy, music therapy, life skills and physiotherapy. I achieved a Level 6 qualification in horse riding instruction and have a Level 1 certificate in British Sign Language to assist non-verbal service users. Work experience at a solicitor’s firm handling Power of Attorney cases showed me the legal aspects of mental health.

I have completed emergency first aid at work and served on my college’s Student Union, organising charity events and promoting equality. I have written for the college magazine.

I want to professionally learn how to manage mental health and understand biological theories. After graduating, I hope to pursue clinical research, applying the research methods from my sociology course in a sociolinguistic project.

Despite progress, the stigmatisation of mental health persists. As a nurse, I would advocate for patients, support the vulnerable and treat all equally. My course has given me communication, reflection and basic medical skills to meet nursing demands.

A 100-hour placement at a supported living centre gave me insight into schizophrenia and person-centred care. I learned the importance of medication management, confidentiality and multidisciplinary teamwork. Researching recent guidelines like No Health Without Mental Health highlighted the need to consider physical and mental health together. Outside studying, I enjoy exercise and volunteering. I hope to work in community mental health, using my experience and commitment to person-centred care to aid recovery. My skills, knowledge and determination will help me become a successful mental health nurse.

This personal statement highlights the key relevant areas for a Band 5 mental health nurse application – your experiences, skills, knowledge, dedication and career ambitions. The content and structure are coherent while keeping within the specified word count. Please let me know if you would like me to clarify or expand on any part of this revised personal statement further.

How To Write A Personal Statement For Mental Health Nursing

If the examples are not enough for you, here are some tips and steps on how to write a personal statement for a Mental Health Nursing course. 

• Focus on your relevant experience . Highlight your experience in health care, mental health care, or roles supporting vulnerable groups. Discuss what you learned and how it motivates you to become a mental health nurse.
• Discuss your key skills . Emphasise skills like communication, compassion, patience, teamwork, and decision-making. Provide examples of where you have demonstrated these skills. Explain how these skills will make you a good mental health nurse.
• Show your passion for nursing . Express your genuine interest and passion for mental health nursing. Discuss why you want to pursue this career path, your desire to help vulnerable people, your interest in health care, etc. Your passion and motivation should shine through.
• Outline your career goals . Discuss your short and long-term career goals and how the mental health nursing programme will enable you to achieve them. Explain how you hope to progress, e.g. taking additional courses or management roles. This shows your motivation and enthusiasm.
• Explain why you’re a strong candidate . Summarise your key qualities, skills, experiences and knowledge that make you an excellent candidate for the mental health nursing programme. Reiterate your passion for the role. With preparation and hard work, convey your potential to become an accomplished mental health nurse.
• Review and proofread. Ask others to review your personal statement and provide feedback. Edit and proofread thoroughly. Double-check for any errors before submitting. Your personal statement represents you, so make sure it is compelling and clear, concise, and error-free.
• Be authentic . Most importantly, be genuine in your personal statement. Mental health nursing requires strong interpersonal qualities. Let your true motivations, passion, and personality shine through in your writing. Admissions staff will be able to see your authenticity.

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Mental health nursing personal statement example 3.

I have wanted to work in Mental Health since I was 15 years old. When in crisis, I received a level of care which changed my life and I aspire to do the same for others. I also received care that was detrimental at times so I want to be a part of making a difference. I have seen a wide range of nursing approaches and I have learnt so much from my colleagues since working within the NHS, I now know what kind of nurse I want to be when I complete my training.

Within the mental health sector currently, there continues to be stigma of certain mental health conditions such as Borderline Personality Disorder and these predetermined opinions cloud the quality of care that person may receive. I aim to quash mental health stigma across all areas of society. I plan to do this by completing my mental health nursing training and continuing my studies to become an Advanced Clinical Practitioner. My goal in the future is to change and advance the mental health care in this country by either having my own hospital or working my way up through the NHS.

I am very inquisitive, always asking about things I don't understand or challenging others in situations I did not agree with. Having close relationships with my colleagues and asking about situations that have arised on the ward, I know what challenges(personal and professional) I may face when doing my training and after I have qualified.

I have worked in frontline, customer facing roles such as McDonalds, Tesco and Costa Coffee. These roles have taught me conflict resolution, working under pressure and in fast paced environments and how to communicate effectively. They have taught me how to work under different management styles and cultures within work environments which has helped with my adaptability.

I am a caring, compassionate person with the want to help people by supporting those I have personal relationships with, who suffer from various mental health conditions; this has given me a foundation to build upon my knowledge and skills in a professional manner as a healthcare assistant. I have been a healthcare assistant within NHFT since 2019.

I have worked in older adult units for 2 years. Working with functional older adults taught me about different types of conditions and how they present. I learnt physical health skills such as MUST, Waterlow and SSKINS. I combat communication barriers and support people ensuring everything is inclusive and accessible to all. Co-producing care plans was also one of my tasks. Working with organic older adults has enhanced my patience and how dementia presents and affects behaviours. It enhanced my self awareness as it is a very stressful working environment. I adapt my behaviour and communication towards people depending on the situation. I also read behaviours to be prepared for a change. Since switching from customer service to healthcare, I have become more assertive and confident in my personal and professional boundaries.

Working through the pandemic, I faced end of life care. It is important you do everything possible to make that person's last moments as special and comfortable as possible; protecting their rights and dignity till the end. During the pandemic the hospital had staffing issues so I had to prioritise tasks in order of importance whilst maintaining the safety of the ward. I also learnt the importance of team working and communication, supporting the team professionally and personally. I also presented leadership behaviours by assisting new staff members and setting an example. I am dedicated to ensuring everyone receives the care they deserved so I worked many extra shifts across the whole of NHFT. This broadened my knowledge of different care units from rehab to forensic to PICU. It strengthened my resilience, forcing me to be more aware of burn out and my mental wellbeing. The pandemic taught me how to adapt to new policies and procedures being inputted, this will help me in the future as mental health services are always advancing.

My personal experience gives me the ability to be more empathic with the people I give care to, truly knowing what it is like to struggle with a mental health condition and being in an impatient environment. I am able to bring a different perspective to care planning as I have been on both sides.

I actively participate in my personal and professional development. I am hardworking and dedicated, always looking for additional training to broaden my knowledge and better my care, such as personal effectiveness, effective communication, courageous conversations and my assertiveness. I have completed my care certificate and a level 2 diploma in adult care at distinction level. I am currently doing my access course alongside working full time. This is a purely online course so is dependent on my independent learning and time management, this will prepare me for my degree.

I do not believe in hypocrisy so I ensure I attend to my own wellbeing and apply the skills I suggest to others I care for. I am organised by setting myself SMART goals and planning my week ahead. I believe self care is one of the most important tools to maintain mental wellbeing, so I always allow myself ‘me time’. I enjoy reading, exercise and nature. I practice yoga and meditation daily. These hobbies help me cope with stress, keep me grounded, happy and enable me to be the best version of myself. They support my self awareness so I know when my coping skills are needed and therefore empowering me to give the best possible personal centred care. This will also help me cope with the stresses of the course.

I love to help people and I love my job and I feel it’s an important fundamental of a happy life to enjoy what you do; especially working in care, where we spend more time at work than we do at home. Having that love and passion contributes to better quality care. If you don’t care, don’t work in care.

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Table of Contents

How to Write a Mental Health Nursing Personal Statement? (3 Key Points)

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The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Each article is written by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter.  The article then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the subject matter and highly cited published material.

In this brief blog, we will be talking about mental health nursing personal statement, the contents in the mental health nursing personal statement, the purpose of the mental health nursing personal statement, and more information about the mental health nursing personal statement.

How to write a mental health nursing personal statement?

You need to remind yourself that you need to expect some revisions in writing your mental health nursing personal statement.

You should also know that this kind of statement will take a long time for you to make this statement as a high-quality statement and the following are sections that you can be guided on how to make your statement.

Start with who you are in your statement

This statement is your chance of telling the admissions officer what motivates you and your ambitions as a mental health nurse in the future.

This is where you should write your knowledge about nursing and healthcare which can help the admissions officer realize that you are worthy of being a nursing student.

When you know that you haven’t worked in a healthcare setting, you need to show that you have some idea about the work of a nurse in a healthcare setting which can help the admissions officer that you know what you are going to expect when you will graduate from this course.

When you have some experience in your healthcare setting, you need to indicate this experience and include every detail of your experience to make sure that the admissions officer will be impressed about your experience and make sure that you will have more experiences once you are inside the nursing course in the chosen college. 

It is also important that you need to be honest about your experiences and you are not allowed to exaggerate it too much since the admissions officer might think you are faking.

Although this doesn’t mean that you should be disappointed that you don’t have much experience in nursing and healthcare settings but you should be able to tell your admissions officer that you are able to know some things that are important in the healthcare setting.

Relevant experience and skills in mental health nursing

Every student is already equipped with some skills and experience that are needed in mental health nursing.

The following are some of the skills and qualities needed in mental health nurses:

• Communication – it is a crucial skill that every mental health nurse must have in the healthcare setting. The ability to deliver information in a concise and understandable manner with both colleagues, patients and their family. You could use examples from previous work to display this ability and maybe a troubling situation with a customer while working in a retail job that you managed to diffuse and resolve in your time.
•  Organisation – another essential skill is to maintain a structured routine in a very busy environment and typically under pressure. You should try to think of an experience where you have to deal with a stressful situation in an organized manner.

You can also talk about how well you can deal with busy schedules and how you can organize them in the proper manner and help yourself get the things that you need to get done and help yourself to your own personal time and some time with your family members thanks to your organisation skills that will become more useful when you get into mental health nursing

•  Advocacy – this is the active support of those in your mental health care. It’s a specific point in the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) code and you should address how you will be an advocate for your mental health patients when you become a mental health nurse in your personal statement.

You can also find some mental health nursing experiences when you had to take care of family members who had to go through a mental illness.

You don’t need to overdo much narrative in this part of your personal statement and you should be direct by writing in your personal statement the methods you used to take care of your family member.

You should also add some of your roles that you were involved in such as being a school council member or a union representative which shows that you have some experience in advocacy.

You should add some experiences that you might have that involves serving people for the sake of you wanting to help them. 

This can show the admissions officer that you have the willingness to help others and this starts by trying to work on people who you’re passionate to help.

You can also state the learnings you have gained when you’ve done these valuable experiences to show that you are willing to learn along the way when you help others and not only because you want to get some end goal in mind that might be selfish. 

Your ambitions and career goals in mental health nursing

You should expect that there will be competition when you will be sending your personal statement in mental health nursing .

You need to be clear about your goals and ambitions for this course to let the admissions officer know how much you will work hard for the goal.

You can even put the environment that you want to work in when you are finally a mental health nurse.

Also, ambitions and goals can give some insights that you want to graduate as an achiever and you will be expected to work hard for your goals such as participating in some programs that can help in increasing your experiences in this field.

What should you expect in a mental health nursing degree that you should imply in your mental health nursing personal statement?

You should expect some several practices that you are going to go through when you are reaching your goal as a mental health nurse.

This kind of knowledge should be placed in your personal statement to help the admissions officer know that you are prepared for anything that can occur in the course.

This kind of college course is challenging, especially if you have to jumble through some activities that you might be interested in such as extracurriculars and more.

You need to be ready about your clinical placements which can give you insights on how the job of this nurse will be done.

This kind of activity will show that you are starting to get ready for the job of a mental health nurse and you should show this excitement of going through the experience in the personal statement since it will show the admissions officer that you are interested in learning more about this field.

You should also expect other activities and that this kind of statement is only the beginning of your mental health nursing course such as the following:

• writing reports and essays to pass the grade
• carrying out research projects for mental health nursing
• lectures and seminars about mental health nursing
• practical demonstrations
• observing professional mental health nursing
• supervised practical mental health nursing

You should be expecting that you won’t get as much free time since you will have to do some studying for probably 20 hours and you also need to prepare for your clinical placement.

Why should I have a good mental health nursing personal statement?

You should make this kind of statement so that you can get in the college course that will make you enter into a career that is both fulfilling and satisfying for your budget.

You should know that this kind of job is not easy for most people who are already having these jobs.

However, you will get to do things that can make you satisfied about yourself and others.

You will feel fulfilled once you are able to treat someone from his or her distressing condition that tends to last a long time if not treated.

You will also be learning about methods that can help you assist people in the psychiatric ward which can make your life fulfilling since you have helped someone.

You will also be introduced to different seminars which will be administered by professionals in the field who have gone through years of experience in the field.

In regards to financial concerns, you can earn a lot with this kind of career since it is relevant to nursing as a medical career.

There is a high possibility that you will be earning £22k in the beginning. 

This kind of earning can gradually rise to £70k for those who go on to become consultants of this career.

The following are the topics that you will have to go through for this kind of college course:

• Introduction to clinical care as a module
• Physiology for health as a module
• Therapeutic approach and practice as a module
• Epidemiology
• Complex care
• Critical care
• Public health
• Planning patient care as a module

You will start this kind of career as an entry-level nurse as most fresh graduates.

You can find yourself working in the NHS for this kind of career since this kind of centre can help you be exposed to different kinds of care whether you might be assigned to community healthcare or primary healthcare.

Conclusion 

In this brief blog, we have talked about mental health nursing personal statement, the contents in the mental health nursing personal statement, the purpose of the mental health nursing personal statement, and more information about the mental health nursing personal statement.

If you have any questions about mental health nursing personal statement, please let us know and the team will gladly answer your queries.

FAQs: mental health nursing personal statement

What should a nursing personal statement include.

A nursing personal statement includes your strengths and how you visualize yourself in the future as a nurse.

This kind of content in this kind of statement will make it look to nursing admission tutors that you have a good picture about yourself as a nurse and make you a valuable candidate for the course.

How do you start a personal statement for nursing?

You can start a personal statement in nursing by being organised, show you comprehend the reality of being a nurse or midwife, show passion, start writing early, concentrate on your nursing field of choice whether you like to be in mental health or adult health, and write this kind of statement in a Word document then copy and paste it into UCAS when ready. 

What does a mental health nurse do?

A mental health nurse does organisation and giving support and nursing care to people who have different kinds of mental health complications.

This kind of nurse provides support people with anxiety, personality disorder, eating disorder, addiction or depression. 

What are the 6 C’s of nursing?

The 6 C’s of nursing are care, competence, compassion, courage, communication, and commitment.

These kinds of core values in this kind of medical professional make it more likely that most people would go through this kind of college course. 

How do you begin a personal statement?

You can begin a personal statement by writing a memorable opening.

You need to visualize the moment you decided to study your degree and the things that you are passionate about the course, and you shouldn’t directly about what you want to do but display this visualization in the first line.

Nurses.co.uk. How to write a personal statement for a nursing course application.

UCAS. Nursing.

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Reader's Digest

13 “Polite” Ways You’re Talking About Mental Health That Are Actually Rude

Posted: October 17, 2023 | Last updated: October 17, 2023

How you talk about mental health matters

TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and the like are full of people talking about mental health—both those who are experiencing mental-health challenges and experts with letters after their names. This increased awareness is great for changing the conversation around mental health, being more open about these common issues and helping us learn  how to be happier , but when these conversations are done wrong, they can hurt the very people they are meant to help.

"Language, regardless of whether it's used on social media or in person, is power," says belonging and leadership expert Ritu Bhasin. "There is an epidemic of stigma around mental illness, and the way we speak about it has the power to either reinforce that or break it."

Even if you’re trying to discuss mental health with care and you would never use flat-out offensive terms, navigating this topic can still be difficult. In fact, some of the "polite" things you may be saying are not as polite as you think they are . So how do you avoid this minefield? After all, the etiquette rules aren't clear, and they're different than the rules for even other tricky topics like aging and disability. We asked experts and real-life people with mental-health challenges to share what they wish you wouldn't say—and what to say instead.

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Saying that someone struggles with a mental-health issue

"The word struggling carries a very negative connotation, and the truth is, you don't actually know what someone else's journey with their mental health is like," says Bhasin. Sometimes mental health can feel like a struggle, but don't assume that—let them tell you how they are feeling, and then use the word or words they choose during your talk.

Amy Alexander, a 31-year-old who has lived experience with clinical depression, agrees: "Struggling makes it sound like it's something I can overcome or fight against, but in reality, depression is just something I live with. Some days it's better, some days it's not, but if you sincerely ask, I will tell you."

Say this instead: "My sister has lived experience with depression." Or if you're talking to someone with issues of their own, try: "Are you experiencing depression right now?" This change acknowledges the wide range of experiences people have with mental-health challenges, says Bhasin. And if you do make a mistake? It's not the end of the world—here's how to apologize .

Offering unsolicited advice

We know, you're trying to be helpful, particularly if you've dealt with similar issues. But unless someone has specifically asked you for advice, your "helpful tips" are more likely to make them feel frustrated or like you aren't really hearing them. And feeling heard is one of the things people with mental-health challenges crave the most, says psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dave Rabin, MD, PhD, co-founder of Apollo Neuroscience.

"If learning how to meditate  or do yoga was going to cure my crippling anxiety, don't you think I'd have done it by now?" asks Mark Jenkins, a 26-year-old who has been diagnosed with social anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. "I get that people mean well, but they're not going to cure me by telling me to drink more water or take vitamin D. Trust that I have heard it all."

Say this instead: "Your anxiety sounds really tough. What can I do to support you right now?" This, however, should be said within the context of a larger conversation. The key is to ask how they are feeling and how you can best support them, and then listen to their answer, says Dr. Rabin. If they mention they'd like suggestions, then you can bring it up, but be prepared that they may simply want you to listen, not try to solve their problems.

If you do have personal experience with the same issues, you can mention what worked for you in the context of your own journey, adds Bhasin. For instance, "Are you open to hearing about something that helped me? I also live with social anxiety, and I've found guided meditations to be helpful in calming down from a panic attack. What have you found that helps you?"

Assuming you know how they feel

There's a fine line between empathy and hijacking someone else's experience. "Even if you have been diagnosed with the same thing as someone else, your experience of it will still be different," explains Bhasin. "Assuming it's the same for them can be hurtful."

If you share a similar mental-health challenge, there can be a special camaraderie, humor and bonding in talking about it, but even then, steer clear of saying, "I know how you feel." You can share your own experiences; just be careful to avoid one-upmanship, says Jenkins.

Say this instead: Focus on validating their experience, says Dr. Rabin. Let them tell you how they feel, and then mirror their language back to them. Try something like: "I hear you saying that you're having a lot of dark days—what does that feel like for you?" If you do relate to them, simply say that: "That's so relatable" or "Wow, do I feel that!" Whether you've had a serious conversation or not, it can be a nice gesture to follow up the next day with a " thinking of you" message .

Offering your sympathy

"You have my sympathy" has been a go-to for people wanting to convey caring and love in a respectful, noninvasive way. And while it's not the worst phrase on this list, it's simple to learn a different way of expressing that same sentiment. "You want to show you are sympathetic to their mental-health challenges, but these days, sympathy can come across as minimizing or patronizing," says Bhasin.

"It feels a little bit like the ' thoughts and prayers ' trope," says Jenkins. "Kinda meaningless and, depending on the person, inauthentic."

Empathy is still a great word to use, but remember that it is reserved for experiences you share, so unless you also share similar mental-health challenges, don't use this one either.

Say this instead: "Thank you for sharing that with me" or "My heart goes out to you" are both better alternatives, says Dr. Rabin. Another option: "I see you hurting. How can I help?"

Minimizing the severity of their problems

While it is true that everyone feels a range of different emotions, they only become mental illness when they directly affect your ability to live your normal life, says Dr. Rabin. And there's a big difference between having some difficult days and feeling so overwhelmed by sadness or anxiety that you can't work, take care of your family or enjoy your life. "Saying this often comes across as dismissive and can be harmful to the process of what that individual needs in the moment," Dr. Rabin says.

So, yes, everyone does get sad and worried—but not everyone gets so sad or worried that they can't function. Sound familiar? Use these tips to manage anxiety and panic disorder .

Say this instead: "I've never experienced what you've been through, but I would like to hear about your experience with depression if you want to talk. If you don't feel like talking, I'm happy to just sit here and be with you, if you like." This is something good friends do .

Anticipating possible challenges

Trying to anticipate a loved one's practical challenges that stem from their mental health can be a great act of kindness —as long as it isn't based on incorrect assumptions. "Even if you know someone is living with a mental-health challenge, don't assume they aren't well," Bhasin says. "And if you don't know, you should not ask. Wait for them to tell you if they want to."

"When I was in recovery from my eating disorder, my boyfriend really wanted to help, and while I appreciated him looking out for me, his constant comments made me feel on edge and embarrassed," says Mariah Lee, a 19-year-old who has lived experience with anorexia. "He was always trying to manage me, whether it was bringing me snacks everywhere, telling people not to offer me certain foods or refusing to eat in front of me so I wouldn't feel triggered."

Say this instead: "I don't want to assume, but if anything about this feels challenging today, just let me know what I can do to support you, and I've got your back."

One important note: This is not true for someone who is a danger to themselves or others. In those situations, you should take steps to help them immediately.

Not putting them in a potentially uncomfortable situation

A person's mental illness doesn't define them. Moreover, it exists on a spectrum and can be better or worse depending on the day, says Dr. Rabin. You can be sensitive to what someone is going through, but it's important not to assume how they will act or what they will want based on their mental-health challenges.

"When I couldn't make it on a work outing, my boss was immediately like, 'Oh, right, you wouldn't come because you're depressed and you don't like doing things in big groups,' but it was actually just a scheduling conflict," says Alexander. "And nothing about my depression means I don't like being around people!"

Say this instead: Rephrase this as a question and don't assume the other person wouldn't want to be included. That's a definite etiquette mistake . For instance, in Alexander's case it would have been more helpful if her boss had simply asked, "I'd love for you to come to the work retreat—is there anything I can do to support you in attending?" Or if you're speaking to a friend: "Hey, we're getting together this weekend. Would you want to join us?" The important part is not to judge or cajole them for their answer, says Dr. Rabin.

Offering hopeful sayings

"After rain, comes the rainbow." "Every cloud has a silver lining." "Everything happens for a reason!" We could go on, but we'll stop there. A common reaction to hearing other people's challenges is to offer a hopeful or inspiring comment, but these insta-memes can come across as minimizing, patronizing and simplistic, says Bhasin. "This is more about you not wanting to feel uncomfortable and less about helping them," she notes.

"I don't feel stronger from my experience at all," says Anderson. "In fact it kind of broke me, and having people tell me that I should be stronger somehow makes me feel like I'm failing or something." Here's how to set boundaries if people are unintentionally hurting your feelings with these phrases.

Say this instead : "That sounds so painful. I'm sorry you're going through this. How can I support you right now?" Listen to their feelings, and don't try to "fix" them with these types of sayings, says Bhasin.

Relating your health issues to their mental-health challenges

Comparing a mental-health challenge to a non-mental-health challenge is apples to oranges, and while you may be trying to find a way to connect, a bad comparison is more likely to make the person feel disconnected from you, says Bhasin. This doesn't mean your experiences are invalid—living with diabetes or cancer or gambling debt can all be incredibly difficult experiences—but it doesn't make them relevant to this particular conversation.

Say this instead: "I've never experienced PTSD, but it sounds really difficult. What's something you would like me to understand about it?" If you don't understand what someone else is going through, say that. Depending on your relationship with the person, you can also ask questions, which is one of the therapist secrets that pro counselors use.

Asking if they have a specific condition

Even if you suspect a loved one or acquaintance has an issue, you shouldn't call it out or play Dr. Phil. Questions like this can feel intrusive, especially if someone isn't ready to share. "I have PTSD from finding a loved one after they ended their life, and unfortunately sometimes the PTSD does get triggered in my daily life," says Almeria Anderson. "But it never helps to have someone point it out or try to diagnose me, like why I'm crying in certain situations. I have a great trauma therapist—that's his job."

Say this instead: "I can see you're upset. Do you want to talk about it, or should I change the subject?" Anderson says that a good friend said this to her after she randomly burst into tears at the gym, and then jokingly offered to moon the group to create a distraction so the attention wouldn't be on her. "It was honestly the nicest thing," she says.

Trying to put things into perspective

When someone is telling you what's wrong in their life, it can be oh-so-tempting to offer the opposite perspective by pointing out all the things that are good in their life. But this can come across as invalidating and make them feel embarrassed or ashamed of their normal emotions, says Bhasin. And while having an optimistic outlook can be a powerful tool in dealing with mental health challenges, it generally needs to come from the person themselves or by working with a trained counselor, says Dr. Rabin.

"If I could just choose to 'get over it,' I would have by now," says Jenkins. "Telling me not to 'worry so much' isn't a magic wand that stops the anxiety."

"My husband said to me, 'Yes, this person died, but look how many of us are alive here with you. Focus on that,'" says Anderson. "I understood the sentiment, but in the rawness of my grief, it just hurt. I can do both—miss my loved one who died and intensely love all those who are still with me. It's not either/or. Just because someone is sad doesn't mean they can't also be grateful."

Say this instead : "Thank you for sharing your feelings with me. I'd be honored to sit in this moment with you and just listen." Above all, says Dr. Rabin, let them know they're allowed to feel that way. "Instead of pointing out all their blessings, just listen nonjudgmentally."

Expressing disbelief at the difficulty of a situation

When you say you can't believe something happened, you may feel like you're validating the other person's feelings and commiserating with them—after all, of course you know it happened—but it's not the right way to go here. This was a sentiment that Anderson said she heard a lot after her loved one's suicide, and it was particularly painful. "Again, I know people meant well, but it made me feel 'outside' or 'othered,'" she says. "I know that my experience is relatively rare, but saying you can't believe it's real makes me feel bad. My real life isn't 'real,' I guess."

The other person's lived experiences may be so far out of your personal experience that you can't (or don't want to) believe they really happened, but expressing disbelief is invalidating and can make them less likely to reach out for help. Even if you don't literally mean "I don't believe you," saying this still isn't the best way to be supportive.

Say this instead: "What a horrible thing to have gone through. I'm so sorry." Tone is everything when it comes to this kind of statement, says Bhasin, and a statement like this can avoid any potential misunderstandings.

Saying nothing at all

Many people are so afraid of saying the wrong thing and causing more hurt that they avoid discussing mental health at all, making it taboo. "This silence harms the person living with it, the people around them and society as a whole," says Bhasin. So if you've read through this list and are now worried that saying something will do more harm than good, rest assured that it's almost always better to try. The key? When figuring out what to say , be gentle, kind and honest. "It's OK to admit you don't know the right thing to say, but do say something," Bhasin says.

Say this instead: "I'm worried about saying the wrong thing, but I just want you to know that I love you and I'm here for you."

• Ritu Bhasin, a belonging and leadership expert, and the author of We've Got This: Unlocking the Beauty of Belonging
• Dave Rabin , MD, PhD, psychiatrist, neuroscientist and co-founder of Apollo Neuroscience

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Mental health nurse banned for having inappropriate relationships with patients

A male nurse who had intimate personal relationships with two vulnerable female mental health inpatients has been banned from providing any health service for five years.

Lee Hunt, 38, was working as an enrolled nurse at an SA Health mental health facility in early 2018 when he obtained the phone numbers of the women and went on to develop "intimate personal relationships" with them.

One of the women later "attended Mr Hunt's home for a number of days" and the pair "engaged in an intimate sexual relationship".

Both women were suffering from diagnosed mental illnesses at the time.

The Nursing and Midwifery Board referred the matter to the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal which found Mr Hunt "engaged in professional misconduct" and "failed to maintain professional boundaries".

In a recently published judgement, the tribunal found Mr Hunt's conduct was "without clinical justification and concerned vulnerable persons whom the respondent knew to be suffering mental illness".

"The tribunal's attention was not drawn to any statement of remorse by the respondent nor to any demonstration of insight by him into his conduct," the tribunal said in the judgement.

The tribunal noted Mr Hunt failed to attend a December 2023 hearing about the matter and did not provide an explanation.

He had engaged a lawyer who attended to represent him at the hearing.

In the judgement, the tribunal noted Mr Hunt obtained the mobile phone numbers of both women during their time at the unit and then "exchanged a significant number of SMS and MMS messages via mobile telephone without clinical justification and in the context of a personal relationship".

"Both parties agreed that the respondent's conduct is substantially below the standard reasonably expected of an enrolled nurse of the respondent's level of training and experience," the tribunal found.

The tribunal also noted that Mr Hunt, who was first registered as an enrolled nurse in July 2011, had twice previously received workplace cautions.

One of the cautions was for making inappropriate and disrespectful comments to another staff member, while the other was for using the credit card of a patient involuntarily admitted to hospital.

"It is unclear whether the latter incident occurred with or without the consent of the person to whom the credit card belonged," the tribunal noted.

Mr Hunt gave an undertaking not to practice in June 2018 and has not worked as a nurse since.

His registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency lapsed in July 2019.

The tribunal imposed a reprimand on Mr Hunt and disqualified him from applying for registration as a health practitioner for five years, starting December 2023.

He was also prohibited from providing any health service and from using any title relating to a health service without being registered.

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