Just Checking In: Holiday Edition

10 MENTAL HEALTH CHECK-IN QUESTIONS FOR YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY

For so many, the holiday season is tough to get through. There are people struggling with grief, financial stress, loneliness, difficult family dynamics, or just general life changes.  It can be hard to ask how someone is actually feeling during this time of year or to start a conversation about their mental health during the holidays. But sometimes — you just have to ask.

Introducing Just Checking In: Holiday Edition — ten simple questions to check-in with your friends and family during the holiday season. You can do this over the phone, on FaceTime, or in person, and it only takes ten minutes. 

A few quick things to keep in mind:

  • Spend as much time as you want on each question.

  • Stay engaged with follow-up questions.

  • Keep things judgment-free.

  • You don’t have to be an expert, you just have to listen.

  • Stay in touch after, and don’t be afraid to connect them to resources.

We’d explain more, but…you get it.

Questions

  1. How are you feeling today, really? Physically and mentally. 

  2. Are you taking care of the basics (sleeping, eating full meals, drinking enough water)?

  3. Have you been able to do any self-care lately? If not, what would help you get back on track?

  4. How do you normally feel about the holidays? 

  5. What’s one thing that you’re looking forward to this season?

  6. What’s something we can do for someone else over the next few weeks? 

  7. Is there anything weighing heavily on your mind right now? 

  8. Is there something I can do to help you feel loved and supported? 

  9. What’s a favorite holiday memory of yours? What sights, sounds, and smells come to mind?

  10. What’s something we can do together (even if we’re apart) that would be good for our mental health?

You did it! Wasn’t that nice? Now pick someone to call tomorrow and pay it forward.

Keep it going

You can use these same questions with every person in your life, multiple times.

Check-in with yourself

Don’t forget that this check-in can work on your own, too! You can’t help other people if you aren’t checking-in with yourself, so go ahead and ask yourself these questions and answer honestly.

Connect to resources

Don’t worry if you don’t have the perfect response: just be you and be an active listener. You can always connect them to our Find Help page or the Journal — where you can find articles like How to manage your trauma and triggers during the holidays — after your check-in. 

You got this

If you feel a little nervous about having a conversation with someone about their mental health, check out Just Talk About It or Listen Up. 

Share it on social

We want to hear about your conversations! Screenshot your Just Checking In video chats and post to your social channels. Tag @idontmind and use the hashtag #justcheckingin.

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You can find our original Just Checking In for simple questions to check-in with your friends and family at any point throughout the year.

Just Checking In, HolidaysKristina Benoist