Supporting a Loved One with Mental Illness: Four Messages for Families

👥Don't go it alone, seek support from professionals, organizations, and other families who have experienced similar challenges.

🚫❌Avoid getting into fights or arguments with your loved one, focus on listening and finding alternative solutions.

📚⚖️Learn the rules and workings of the mental health system, be an advocate for your loved one's needs, and know how to navigate resources and treatment options.

🏃🏽‍♂️⛰️Recovery is a marathon, not a sprint. Don't give up hope and continue to support your loved one's journey towards mental health and wellbeing.

🌞🌈Recovery is possible and people can make fulfilling lives for themselves despite mental illness. Encourage your loved one to seek treatment and support.

Where can families turn to for support?

—Families can seek support from professionals, organizations like NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), doctors, clergy, friends, or other families who have experienced similar challenges.

What should families do to avoid fights with their loved one?

—Instead of getting into fights or arguments, families should focus on listening, understanding, and finding alternative solutions to support their loved ones.

How should families navigate the mental health system?

—Families should learn the rules and workings of the mental health system, be advocates for their loved ones' needs, and seek information and resources from mental health professionals or organizations like NAMI.

Is recovery from mental illness possible?

—Yes, recovery is possible with good treatment, hard work, and support. Many people have made fulfilling lives for themselves despite mental illness.

What is the key message for families supporting a loved one with mental illness?

—The key message is to never give up, as recovery is a journey and progress takes time. Families should continue to support their loved one and keep hope alive.

00:00Introduction and shared concern for helping loved ones with mental illness.

03:57Symptoms and signs of mental illness: problems with mood, thinking, and behavior.

08:12Importance of not going it alone and seeking support from others.

10:45Avoiding fights and using listening and leverage instead.

14:03Learning how the mental health system works and understanding its rules.

14:50Recovery is a marathon, not a sprint - maintaining hope and supporting the journey.