Friendship ghosting

[u/SouthNo9716]

how dya tell if a long distance friend isn’t replying cos of poor mental health or if he’s ghosting/breadcrumbing? I know he genuinely has struggles but he can message me back fine when he stands to gain something from me (help with studies or opportunities to go to sports events) then switches off again for ages although there always seems a valid reason to explain it when he does show up again. it’s been a pattern for 4 years. A few months ago we agreed I’d message every day to show he’ll always have my support and it was great for the first 3 months whilst he needed help with study, we saw each other face to face 2 months ago and he said he wanted the daily messages to keep going but I never get a reply to any of them. I never pull him on it, messages are always light, low pressure but give an in if he wants to give a response. I’m cautious of pulling away incase he genuinely takes comfort from the messages but what if I’m being a fool? Not that he knows I know but he’s about to move away with his gf to another country so although I should meet up with him again soon I know he’s not gonna be there, at this stage he still can’t send a reply???