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Jul 5th 2012, 19:15

Last night in episode two of "Real World St. Thomas," a worried Trey casually approached Brandon about the notes revealing his hopelessness and emotional struggles. But do you think the roommates did enough?

It was quite a stormy start in St. Thomas after episode one, which ended with Trey finding Brandon's journal entry that hinted at self-harm. We were all left wondering what Trey would do next if anything, so in the meanwhile, we shared some messages from Half of Us that you could use if you were found in a similar situation. At the top of last night's episode, Trey did indeed talk to Brandon. *applause* But Brandon was quick to dismiss that anything was wrong... *sigh*

So what now? The signs are there, but Brandon isn't opening up. Is it okay to keep asking questions? What if you've just met the person? We reached out to out friends at Half of Us again to get some answers.

+ WATCH: A friend sees signs of distress in this PSA from Half of Us.

While Brandon may or may not have emotional issues he is struggling with, you can never know your friend's true emotional state unless you ask -- like Trey -- AND follow up. When doing so, it is important that you don't:

+ Enable them by covering up for missed obligations.

+ Continue to participate with them in behaviors (like drinking) that are agitating their mental health.

+ Back down on the importance of seeking help -- remember, many emotional disorders require professional support and aren't something people can fix on their own.

+ Feel like you are going behind your friend's back if you think it's necessary to tell someone else about the problem without your friend's consent.

Taking on the burden of a friend in emotional distress can be extremely stressful and draining so remember to recognize your limits and take care of your own emotional health, too.

If you need help figuring out how to support a friend, or you or someone you know needs help immediately, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) anytime for a confidential conversation with a counselor.

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