This may depend on your relationship with them. Gently encouraging someone to seek appropriate support would be helpful to start with.

When someone with a mental illness is called 'dangerous', 'crazy' or 'incompetent' rather than unwell, it is an example of a stigma.

Stigma often comes from lack of understanding or fear. Inaccurate or misleading media representations of mental illness contribute to both those factors.

Adverse childhood experience is a major risk factor for the development of psychological and behavioural problems not only during childhood, but also in adulthood as well. There are studies that have shown that adults who experienced child abuse do have higher rates of depression, suicidality, anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They may also be more likely to develop alcohol-use disorders.

Doing things like deep breathing, taking a short break or listening to music may help you cope with the increased stress you may face. You may need to tell the person that you are not able to help them further and that they may need to seek professional help. If he or she continues to call you, it may be important to be firm and tell them that you may not always be able to pick up their calls and to set rules and boundaries for this.

If you need to talk to someone about it, please approach your nearest Family Service Centre, or Non-Government Organization (NGO) for counselling. Exploring those issues with a trained counsellor can sometimes bring new perspectives and help relieve stress.