What Can You do When Someone You Love is Diagnosed with a Mental Illness?

By: Angie Winkler, MS, LPC
Manager, The CareNET Clinic

1 - Encourage Treatment.

There is hope to be found in treatment. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 80% of people suffering from a mental illness can effectively return to their normal activities if they receive appropriate treatment. With early detection and proper treatment many will experience a full recovery. It is critically important to encourage and support your loved one to consult with a professional for treatment recommendations. Effective treatments can include medication, psychotherapy, group therapy, day or partial hospital treatment, creative therapies, hypnotherapy, acupuncture, biofeedback, ECT, and other alternative therapies. Be a messenger of hope for your loved one by encouraging them to seek treatment. 

2 - Offer Support Without Solutions.

When someone you love is suffering it’s natural to want to make things better. One of the best ways you can show support is by learning how to BE WITH your loved one, without trying to FIX them. Too often, friends and family members try to help by giving advice such as “just be happy” or “just stop worrying so much.” Imagine for a moment that your loved one is suffering from a chronic physical disease, instead of mental illness. Most of us wouldn’t presume to give advice about treatment; instead we prepare meals, send flowers, send cards, or we share inspirational stories of recovery. We do this so that they will feel loved and cared for. Sometimes the most powerful message to someone with a mental illness is, “I am here for you. You don’t have to go through this alone.”

3 - Find Support.

Educate yourself about the signs and symptoms of the specific mental illness your loved has been diagnosed with. Reach out to others who have family members with a mental illness. Join a support group, either through meetings or online. Utilize a counselor to help manage your own feelings of anger, frustration, loss, fear, and anxiety about your loved one. Remember that you are only as helpful to others as you are healthy yourself. You can find information about Kansas City support groups, advocacy efforts, and other resources at: www.namikc.org or www.mhah.org.