I find that many people respond to another’s mental or physical health problems with advice even if it isn’t asked for! There is nothing wrong with advice (as long as the offerer knows what they are talking about); after all I am a CBT therapist and I often give advice to my clients, as CBT is like a box of tools… However acknowledgment and empathy must come first, even if it’s as simple as: “That must be awful.” The sufferer wants to feel heard and they may choose to heed your advice or not – that is their prerogative.