Why family support matters?
From the book – Chapter 17: Helping a Family Member
Why family support matters
Family members, partners, and close friends often play a crucial role in recovery. They provide practical help, emotional support, encouragement for treatment, and a sense of belonging.
Supporting someone with mental illness can be emotionally demanding. Families need information, skills, and self-care to help effectively without burning out.
Read the full chapter – Chapter 17: Helping a Family Member
Stories from real life
- The Door That Stayed Closed – Fatima, 15, in Lucknow, has started spending evenings in her room with the door shut. She skips meals, her marks have fallen and she snaps at…
- Appa in the Village – Mr Gowda, 76, lives in a village near Mysuru with his son's family. For months he has been quiet, forgets where he put things, and says,…
- Brother, Bottle and Blame – Imran, 35, in Kolkata, drinks every evening and more on weekends. He has missed work, lost his temper with his wife and borrowed money. His younger…
- The Daughter Who Held Everything Together – Lakshmi, 40, in Hyderabad, looks after her mother who has schizophrenia, her two children, and works part-time. She gives medicines on time, goes to every appointment,…
Shloks
- Tukaram Gatha; cite by first line – The person who treats the broken and suffering as their own family is a true saint. That is where God lives.
More on this topic: Helping a loved one with mental illness – family and relationships
More questions
- Understanding understanding the person's experience – helping a family member
- How to talk?
- Helpful phrases – how to talk
- Unhelpful phrases to avoid – how to talk
- Listening – how to talk
- Understanding encouraging professional help – helping a family member
- Understanding supporting treatment at home – helping a family member
- Understanding handling crises at home – helping a family member
- Understanding reducing stigma within the family – helping a family member
- Understanding special considerations – helping a family member
- How to help a family member who is struggling
- How to set healthy boundaries in relationships