Here, a few more ways to check in on a friend so that they know you always have their back. Trans people making fun of themselves, others, and the situations they find themselves in with memes and gifs. If they know you are there consistently - in an open-minded and non-judgmental way - it really can mean the world. 'Your friend may not be ready to talk,' Consul says, and that's OK. Just don't expect a lively conversation or a response right away. And yes, sometimes that 'thinking of you text' can be in the form of a funny meme. Sometimes sending an 'I'm thinking of you' text is a great place to start as it'll brighten their day and help them feel less alone, Consul says. If you know they're going through a tough time, all you really need to do is make contact. That doesn't necessarily mean straight up asking about their anxiety or depression. 'You want your friend to know that you are there for them and a safe person to turn to if they need to talk about their mental health,' Lauren Consul, LMFT, JD, a licensed marriage and family therapist, tells Bustle. And yet experts recommend reaching out anyway, especially if you haven't heard from them in a while. If a friend is struggling with their mental health, you might worry about saying the wrong thing, hurting their feelings, or worse. But when it comes to texting a friend to check in on them, finding the right words can be tough. It's so easy to send memes, make jokes, and talk about absolutely nothing via text.
