Thanks very much for taking the time to respond, Lavina. I appreciate it. You’ve described the nature of this sad predicament well.

With respect to the response “I’m sorry to hear that”, here are my thoughts. On the one hand, my assumption is that most people, when using this phrase, have nothing but positive intentions. As you say, we often aren’t sure how we ought to respond to somebody who has just revealed that they’re experiencing mental health difficulties. We feel we should say something, but because we’re sometimes at a loss for words, the best we can come up with is, “I’m sorry to hear that”.

On the other hand, and as you passionately explain in your piece, this reply can come across as disingenuous, half-hearted, lazy, or unsympathetic. It can make a person who’s suffering feel as if their pain is being dismissed or not taken seriously. This highlights that mental health difficulties and emotional trauma are challenging issues for sufferers and non-sufferers alike to confront.

Your suggestion that people should try to make themselves available as soon as possible, e.g., by picking up the phone and calling the person who needs support, is one I definitely accept. Best of luck to you :)