what not to say when someone has a mental illness

You look fine to me
What are people with a mental illness meant to look like?

You don't seem sad
Being 'sad' is a very small part of depression. It is a symptom of the illness. depression is about how you see yourself and how you think others see you.

Put a smile on your face
As someone who struggled with depression for a long time before I got help, smiling to the outside world was something I did often but it didn't work. I was smiling on the outside but dying on the inside. telling someone who has depression to just smile, may mean well, but it's not appropriate.

Get over it
You wouldn't say that to someone with a physical illness, so don't say it to someone with a mental illness.



I know how you feel
No you don't. You can sympathise with me but you will never know how I feel just like I'll never know how you feel.

Don't talk about it
Why should I be made to feel ashamed for having a mental illness? If you don't understand or want to know something just ask.