Caring for someone with a mental illness

Caring for someone with a mental illness

Caring for someone with mental health problems bring unique challenges.

Mental health problems vary greatly in severity. Mild problems are common and can be helped with understanding and support. Severe mental illness, such as deep depression, is less common and poses more challenges.

Work together with the person who is ill and the team of mental health professionals. Take things slowly, step by step. The speed of progress is not as important as moving in the right direction. Try to maintain a positive attitude toward your loved one. A non-judgmental attitude allows the person to focus on coping and getting well, rather than trying to deal with anger and resentment.

Communication can be a struggle for many people with a mental illness. Some people don´t have the motivation to communicate, while others lack the confidence to say what they really want to. Some people experience hallucinations, which can affect how and when they communicate. To help the person you care to communicate, give them enough time to make themselves heard and let them know that you accept them and their illness. Encourage and reassure them if they get upset or appear to be struggling with their emotions.

If the person you care for is feeling particularly isolated or desperate, they may say that they want to kill themselves, or they may attempt to do it. Mentioning suicide may not be the same thing as wanting to end their life. They may say that they feel overwhelmed and want it to end, or talk about feeling useless or that their life is pointless. It´s important to acknowledge such statements rather than being dismissive or making light of them.

You may be worried about your safety or the safety of the person you care for or someone else. It may be necessary to bring the patient for earlier follow-up and be assessed by their doctor or to contact their community psychiatric nurse or social worker for advice. If you believe that you or anyone else is in immediate danger, you may call the police and ask for assistance.

Understand that your loved one has an illness. There are treatments and possibly medicine for it, just like a heart problem. You need information about mental illness and its meaning for your family. This will help you know what behaviors to expect and what to do and say if those behaviors are exhibited. Spend time learning more about the illness.

The person you care for may become increasingly reliant on you. It’s common for people with a mental health diagnosis, such as depression, to become insular and lose interest in social activities. You may be one of the few people they have contact with. Do not deny or minimize your own needs while you try to meet the needs of your loved one. Caring for someone with mental illness can take a lot of energy. Schedule time for yourself. Make time to relax and relieve your stress. Accept your feelings, and find ways of releasing them every day. Some suggestions about how to do this are:

• Talk things through with a friend.
• Exercise.
• Engage in a hobby that you enjoy.
• Do something relaxing, for example take a bath, have a massage, or meditate.