Because of the stigma, different people might have different understandings of mental illness, which means that someone is bound to say the wrong thing. However, saying the wrong thing can sometimes make a person think that you are minimizing his or her problems or just being rude. To avoid this, here is a list of eight things that you should not say to someone who is struggling with mental illness.

1. "Get over it" or "suck it up"

This is perhaps the most insensitive thing to say to anyone. In the case of a person with a mental illness, they have most likely been struggling for a very long time. Simply “sucking it up” is not an option.

2. "Some people have it way worse than you"

Chances are, they already know that. However, it is unfair to tell someone that they cannot talk about their struggles because someone else is struggling as well. That is just as uninformed as telling someone that they shouldn’t smile because someone out there has it way better than them.

3. "Everybody feels sad sometimes"

While this is true, it is insensitive to compare depression to regular sadness. Everybody does feel sad, but not everybody feels depressed. Depression is far more intense and draining than typical sadness.

4. "You’re bringing everyone down"

This is a big fear for most people with mental illness, especially if they are struggling with anxiety. After all, nobody wants to be told that their loved ones are tired of them, especially when they already feel like a burden. If you know someone who is mentally ill, you should try your best to be there for them even if it is a little difficult for you.

After all, if it’s difficult for you to hear about it, just imagine how difficult it is to live with it.

5. "Snap out of it"

Is that all if takes? Thank you, I’m cured!

In all seriousness, this is simply rude to say to anyone who is struggling. If it were so simple to rid oneself of mental illness, the person would have done it by now.

6. "I don’t believe in depression"

First of all, you wouldn’t tell a cancer patient that you don’t believe in cancer. Why is this any different? It is a proven scientific fact that depression can be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain which can be observed. Even if you do research on this fact and still continue to doubt depression, it is incredibly disrespectful to tell someone that you do not believe in an illness that they are struggling with.

7. "I don’t believe in medication"

While it is fine for you to have your beliefs and refrain from taking medication if you so choose, once again, it is disrespectful to tell someone that you do not believe in something that they are using to get better. Chances are, the decision to take meds wasn’t an easy decision for them to begin with. You telling them you don’t believe in medication is not going to make things any easier for them.

8. "Do you really need medication?"

Yes. Because, chances are, if someone is taking medication, they have done some serious research and consideration. This was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. When you say this, it kinda sounds like you’re doubting their intelligence and their understanding of their own self. Moreover, in simple terms, it’s really none of your business.

Now that you’ve seen some examples of things that you shouldn’t say, here are some things you can say instead to show that you care about someone's well-being.

1. "I’m here for you" or "Do you want to talk about it?"

These are probably the best things that you can say to someone struggling with mental illness. Because the stigma is still alive and well, many people feel uncomfortable talking about it unless they are specifically invited.

2. "Text or call me if you ever need to talk"

Not only is this a friendly gesture, but it is also a safety plan for a mentally ill person who also faces urge to self-harm or commit suicide. While they may not directly tell you that they were facing these urges, simply having someone to talk to in times like those will keep them from following through with those urges.

3. "Everything’s gonna be okay"

No matter what you are struggling with, hearing this one phrase can really convince you that you can get through it. Many people, including those struggling with mental illness, simply do not hear this enough from others.

Most importantly, remember that everyone is beautiful and everyone is deserving of love, ill or not.