How to Ask for Help With Depression: 10 Phrases That Make Reaching Out for Depression Support Easier

Asking for help when you’re struggling with depression can feel overwhelming—sometimes impossible. In this episode, mental health advocate Sam Dylan Finch shares the second half of his powerful list of 10 specific phrases you can use when reaching out for support.

Instead of vague advice like “just ask for help,” Sam provides concrete, compassionate language for everything from asking a loved one to help with chores to telling someone directly that you’re suicidal and need help now.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in silence, afraid to burden others, or unsure how to put words to your pain, this episode offers a life-saving toolkit. These practical scripts can help you—and those you care about—navigate moments of crisis with clarity and connection.

Link to Sam Dylan Finch's original article: https://letsqueerthingsup.com/2018/03/03/10-ways-to-reach-out-when-youre-struggling-with-your-mental-health/

Primary Topics Covered:

• Why reaching out feels so hard when you’re depressed
• The danger of vague advice and why specific language matters
• 10 practical, real-world tested phrases to ask for help
• How small acts of support (like chores or errands) can be life-saving
• How to communicate urgency when you’re nearing your limit
• Why being direct about suicidal thoughts is critical and okay
• How to build support even if you don’t have close relationships
• Ways loved ones can respond and show support without needing “the perfect words”

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: The challenge of asking for help
 01:01 – Why we’re revisiting Sam Dylan Finch’s work
 02:59 – The problem with vague “ask for help” advice
 04:39 – What can we do to help people stay alive right now?
 05:23 – Phrase #6: “I need extra support with [specific task]—can you help?”
 07:31 – Phrase #7: “Could you remind me what I mean to you or share a favorite memory?”
 09:08 – Phrase #8: “I’m struggling and afraid I’m reaching my limit. Can you call me [specific time]?”
 10:31 – Phrase #9: “I know we don’t talk much, but I feel like I can trust you. Are you free to talk [specific day/time]?”
 12:22 – Phrase #10: “I am suicidal. I need help right now.”
 13:57 – Why directness in crisis saves lives
 15:27 – How small acts of support can make a huge difference
 17:22 – How friends can help without having “the right answers”
 18:57 – Supporting someone in crisis: walking with them through next steps
 19:40 – Closing reflections: why this list is worth returning to

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