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#Post#: 32--------------------------------------------------
Helping a mentally ill person
DIR By: guest3
Date: June 25, 2021, 10:01 am
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Research confirms that support from family and friends is a key
part of helping someone who is going through a mental illness.
This support provides a network of practical and emotional help.
These networks can be made up of parents, children, siblings,
spouses or partners, extended families, close friends and others
who care about us like neighbours, coworkers, coaches and
teachers. Some people have larger networks than others, but most
of us have at least a few people who are there for us when we
need them.
There are a number of major ways that family and friends can
help in someone’s journey of recovery from a mental
illness:
Knowing when something is wrong—or right: Getting help
early is an important part of treating mental illness. Family
and friends are often the first ones to notice that something is
wrong. See “How do I know when to help?” on the next
page for signs to watch for. Finding a treatment that works is
often a process of trial and error, so family members may also
be the first to see signs of improvement.
How do I do this?
TIP: Learn more about the signs and symptoms of different mental
illnesses. Also learn more about how treatments work so that you
know what side effects you may see, when to look for
improvements and which ones to look for first. A recent review
found that when the family is educated about the illness, the
rates of relapse in their loved ones were reduced by half in the
first year.
Seeking help: Families and friends can be important advocates to
help loved ones get through those hard, early stages of having a
mental illness. They can help their loved one find out what
treatment is best for them. They can also be key in letting
professionals know what’s going on, filling in parts of
the picture that the person who’s ill may not be well
enough to describe on their own.
How do I do this?
TIP: Offer to make those first appointments with a family doctor
to find out what’s wrong or accompany your loved one to
the doctor—these steps can be hard if your loved one
doesn’t have much energy or experiences problems with
concentration. If you do accompany the person, work with them to
write down any notes or questions either of you have in advance
so that you cover all the major points. If your loved one wants
to do it on their own, show them your support and ask them if
there’s anything you could do to help.
TIP: You can’t always prevent a mental health crisis from
happening. If your loved one needs to go to hospital, try and
encourage them to go on their own. If you’re concerned
that your loved one is at risk of harm, they may receive
treatment under BC’s Mental Health Act. It may be
necessary in certain cases, but involuntary treatment can be
complicated and traumatic for everyone. To learn more about the
Mental Health Act, see the “Coping with Mental Health
Crises and Emergencies” info sheet.
Helping with medications, appointments and treatments: If you
spend a lot of time around your loved ones, you can help them
remember to take their medications. You may also be able to help
tell a doctor why medications aren’t being taken as they
should be. Similarly, you may be involved in reminding your
loved one to do their counselling homework or use their light
therapy treatment each morning, or reminding your loved one to
make or keep appointments for treatment.
How do I do this?
TIP: If you notice that your loved one is having trouble taking
their medication, you can encourage them to talk to their doctor
or pharmacist. They can suggest ways to make pill taking easier.
If there are other problems with taking medicine, such as side
effects, encourage your loved one to write down their concerns
and questions and talk to their doctor. If they don’t have
a good relationship with their doctor, help them find a new one.
If cost is a barrier, learn about BC’s no-charge
psychiatric medication coverage called Plan G.
Supporting a healthy lifestyle: Families can also help with
day-to-day factors such as finances, problem solving, housing,
nutrition, recreation and exercise, and proper sleeping habits.
How do I do this?
TIP: See our Wellness Modules at www.heretohelp.bc.ca for
practical tips on how to have a healthy lifestyle for both you
and your loved one. Case managers and peer support workers at
mental health centres in your community may be able to help with
life skills training as well as connections to income and
housing.
Providing emotional support: You can play an important role in
helping someone who’s not feeling well feel less alone and
ashamed. They are not to blame for their illness, but they may
feel that they are, or may be getting that message from others.
You can help encourage hope.
How do I do this?
TIP: Try to be as supportive, understanding and patient as
possible. See our “Where do I go from here?” section
for resources on how to be a good communicator.
TIP: Taking care of an ill family member or friend can be
stressful. Remember that you need emotional support, too.
Consider joining a support group for family members of people
with mental illness. There, you can connect with other people
going through the same things and they can help you work through
your own emotions. It’s very important to make sure you
are taking care of your own mental health as well.
How do I know when to help?
Some signs that a friend or family member may have a mental
illness and could need your help are:
They suddenly no longer have interest in hobbies and other
interests they used to love
They seem to feel angry or sad for little or no reason
They don’t seem to enjoy anything anymore
They have told you about or seem to be hearing strange voices or
having unsettling thoughts
They seem emotionally numb, like they don’t feel anything
anymore
They used to be healthy, but now they’re always saying
they feel a bit sick
They eat a lot more or less than they used to
Their sleep patterns have changed
They seem to be anxious or terrified about situations or objects
in life that seem normal to you and to others
They’ve been missing more and more time from work or
school
They’ve been drinking heavily and/or using drugs to cope
They are talking about taking their life or feeling hopeless
They are avoiding their close friends and family members
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