Family Support and Mental Health-Working Together
Oftentimes when someone is suffering from a mental illness, it affects the whole family. It is important for people to understand the struggles of those around them in order to accept what is happening and move in a healthy manner that allows for proper recovery. Support is a very important part of this process and a lack of support might cause mental health issues to spiral. Support during times of mental health crisis can be helpful in recovery and might lead to earlier diagnoses of mental health issues; this can mitigate the damage to health, relationships, or other aspects of life that mental health would otherwise take a toll on.
Family Therapy
Family therapy is an example of a solution that facilitates communication between members of family through education and conversation, so that a family unit can function better and support the individuals that comprise it. Family therapy is usually done alongside regular treatments for mental health disorders; the purpose is to help an individual, who is suffering from mental health disorders, build a supportive network where they feel comfortable to share their feelings and can learn to thrive. Part of family therapy can often involve education to understand an individual’s mental illness and how it affects them. If one’s peers can understand how a mental illness manifests and affects someone’s life, they are more likely to reach out in support of their family member.
One example of how family therapy can help is if an individual is suffering from a substance use disorder. Substance use disorders tend to eventually spread to affect all aspects of an individual’s life, including work and family. Their friends and family might not understand what is going and why they have suddenly changed or aren’t doing the things that they used to do. Family therapy, alongside regular treatment plans, can be very helpful to both those suffering from mental illnesses and their families. Having this kind of support can improve the outcome of some treatments and encourage those suffering to adhere to their treatment plans even when it feels difficult to do so.
Finding Support
Having strong interpersonal connections is a big part of recovery from mental health disorders. Sometimes it can be difficult to find support from family. You can reach out to friends or other people in the community for support to help with your mental health. Anonymous support groups are also a good place to go for those who feel like they cannot find support anywhere else. Support groups usually involve people who are going through the same experiences and being able to relate to others can strengthen their relationships and help people through the process of coping.
If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health issue, please feel free to contact the professional team at Lifeline Connections for help! Getting yourself help, whether it is through self-help or by reaching out to professionals is an important part of recognizing that you are struggling and is a good step forward to get the help that you need. You can visit
Lifelineconnections.org or call 360.397.8246 for more information.
