Mental Illness Affects Families

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How Mental Illness Affects Families
A Word

This article is dedicated to any family member who has been negatively affected by my behavior. My behavior at its worst oftentimes includes verbal attacks, emotional abuse, bullying, and harassment to name a few. While I’m not proud of my behavior and am doing my best to make amends, I take full responsibility for it and will never use mental illness as an excuse. Although I may never know the full extent of how this has impacted specific family members, I try to see things from their perspective.

One thing that’s for sure is that mental illness is confusing and frustrating for both the person suffering and those who love them. As the subject of mental health continues to grow in popularity, it …show more content…

It is significant, and it cannot and should not be ignored or swept under the rug. How mental illness affects families varies, for families differ. And different family members respond in different ways. Our familial roles tend to dictate how we react, how we might fight back, and how we learn to cope.
Parents

According to Our Healthy Minds, for the parents of a mentally ill child (whether that child is a minor or an adult); parents can usually be the ones who institute the process of finding services and assistance for their child. And at times parents may need to cope with a mental health care system that can be reluctant to acknowledge their part in their offspring’s recovery process.

Although, according to research, the family is not to blame for mental illness, parents in particular might have issues with overcoming guilt. Comprehending that their child truly has an illness (like leukemia or cystic fibrosis) may help to reduce their guilt.

In addition, if there are other children in the family, parents can be concerned about how their other children are coping. The parents may struggle with trying to give their other children attention while, at the same time, managing their mentally ill child’s …show more content…

Discuss the topic openly but in a manner that lets them know they are neither abandoned nor helpless. If they are old enough to understand, share longer terms plans for ongoing support. If they are worried they will become mentally ill, or their future children might, there are research materials and websites which cover the statistics of inheriting a mental illness.
• Give them age-appropriate information about the illness. Your local library or school might have appropriate reading materials. Library staff in particular may be able to recommend appropriate reading material. This helps younger children to understand they are not alone.
• Make time for them. They need to feel safe and secure, and that they matter. They need to know that the family is not just about the illness. You can discuss the issue during these outings, or not.
• Give them a safety network. This includes contact information for trusted adults they can contact if they need help. Give them clear instructions of what to do in case of an emergency. Being prepared will help them understand you have considered the eventuality. Explain the sorts of emergencies that could come up and make it clear that their own welfare and safety come

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