Never ignore a cry for help from a loved one.

What is a cry for help?

It’s an unusual break in routine.

It could be anything:

• A chatty person goes silent.
• A silent person suddenly becomes chatty.
• A private person starts posting on social media.
• A compulsive status updater stops posting altogether.
• You get a call saying they want to talk, but they change their mind.
• They call and seem to be rambling or blabbing without a clear point.

It could manifest in countless ways, but you will notice a break in their usual pattern.

Don’t dismiss it.

What is the best way to handle a cry for help?

The way every crying person should be handled—with warm hugs and open-ended questions.

Too many people are dangerously close to losing themselves. You could be the one who helps them find their way back before it’s too late.

– Osasu Oviawe