How to Navigate Marriage and Mental Health

If you have tied the knot, you likely are well aware that marriage and mental health have a unique relationship. Spouses are life partners that should support each other in all things from achieving their goals to raising family to supporting their mental well-being. Marriage can bring about so much joy and happiness, but as life goes on, there will be roadblocks along the way. Your marriage vows serve as an agreement to help keep both the relationship and the other person's emotional health strong. As a couple goes through the ups and downs of life, their spouse should be there as a source of emotional support and guidance when times get hard.

Want to get insights from a mental health professional about the role of mental health and marriage, as well as ways to ask your partner for emotional support? Read ahead to learn from a licensed expert how to strengthen your marriage and care for your spouse's emotional well-being.

In this article:

• The Role of Mental Health in Marriage
• How to Protect Your Mental Health in Marriage
• How to Ask for Support From Your Partner
• How to Support Your Partner's Mental Health

The Role of Mental Health in Marriage

"Mental health plays a huge role in all marriages, as one partner's mental well-being can impact the other in day-to-day living," shares Dr. Scott Lyons, a licensed holistic psychologist, educator and author of Addicted to Drama: Healing Dependency on Crisis and Chaos in Yourself and Others. "It's important that both partners maintain an overall positive mental health and well-being for a successful and fruitful marriage."

Of course, everyone has their highs and lows and keeping things positive isn't always possible. That's why having open communication is so vital. A healthy understanding of each other's viewpoints can promote a relationship where you are able to turn to your spouse for support when times get hard. This is important for both your own health and that of the marriage.

How to Protect Your Mental Health in Marriage

To protect your own mental health within marriage, it's important to have open and honest conversations with your partner to be able to explain your point of view, what you're going through and work to create solutions. "Communication is one of the biggest factors for overall mental health within a marriage," Dr. Lyons says. "It's important that both partners feel that they have a safe and effective way to communicate with their partner when something is bothering them."

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Communication does take some work for many couples, especially as they may be going through more stressful times. "If this is something that is a challenge within your marriage, it is important to work with a mental health professional such as a therapist or seek additional couples counseling to work on strengthening communication skills with your partners," Dr. Lyons explains.

"Understanding the values that your partner has is also key to successful communication and a strong relationship," Dr. Lyons notes. With awareness of each other's values, you and your spouse can understand viewpoints, talk through issues in an informed way, collaborate to create boundaries for your mental health and decide upon major life decisions as a family.

How to Ask for Support From Your Partner

In moments when your mental health isn't at its peak, it's important that you feel comfortable turning to your partner for help. "Asking for support can be challenging for anyone in any situation, but with the right mental health tools, you can do this in an easier way," Dr. Lyons explains. "While every relationship is different, you want to make sure that when you are asking for help, you are asking for support rather than relying on a partner for everything. If you're not sure how to handle this in your own personal relationship, the best advice is to talk to a licensed professional for the healthiest way to do this."

How to Support Your Partner's Mental Health

Caring for each other's mental health within marriage is a two-way street. It's important that each partner gives the other support in addition to receiving it. Learning to be there for your partner comes down to communication and understanding. "Generally speaking, supporting your partner's mental health involves listening and learning from them," Dr. Lyons shares. "As with any relationship, communication is a huge component in support and checking on their overall well-being makes you a stronger partner."

Mental health struggles are not a battle you and your spouse have to fight alone either. Therapists can be helpful if you're struggling with issues within your marriage or if your spouse is going through a low period in their emotional well-being. "If you suspect something is wrong with your partner's mental health beyond your control, seek help from a licensed professional," Dr. Lyons advises.