“6 Phrases That Can Help A Friend Who’s Struggling, According To Crisis Counselors”

Grief counselor Jill Cohen told Prevention in 2017 that offering to do something concrete, rather than asking "what can I do," is a way to help that's both significant and practical — without making the person think of anything for you to do.

Is their struggle causing disruption in their lives in ways that you can identify and fix?

Whether it's picking them up for work, helping with their kids, making them food, cleaning their house, or some other practical help, there's no limit to what can be helpful. But it's important to ask first, and to respect their boundaries if they say no.