Mhc Changes In Family Care

Mental health conditions (MHC) affect people across the world without discrimination. As individuals are affected by a MHC, it will also affect family members as well. Along with a MHC come stigmas and biases. As a family nurse caring for a person with a MHC, it is important to integrate the whole family in care. This will help not only the patient with a MHC, but also the family as well to produce a constructive outcome. In this discussion, the benefits and barriers to incorporating the family into the care of the mental health patient will be examined.

There are numerous benefits in encompassing the family to assist in caring for the individual affected by a mental health condition. According to Kaakinen, Coehlo, Steele, Tabacco,

and Harmon Hanson (2015), a family-focused approach will support families in the different caregiving roles in ways that boost family alliance and choice in making decisions for care. The family nurse should ensure a positive and open line of communication to establish trust and repertoire. Education and strategies for coping need to be provided to develop the recognition of early symptoms and behavioral changes that accompany the MHC. As a result, this will reduce stress for the family and at the same time, allow family members to continue to be socially functional (Kaakinen, Coehlo, Steele, Tabacco, & Harmon Hanson, 2015). Engaging family in therapy for the individual with a MHC will also increase willingness to comply with medical treatment and the road to recovery. Furthermore, a family nurse can discover underlying family dynamics. According to Stiles (2013), a family nurse needs to teach family members about the specific MHC, ensure understanding that they are not alone, provide resources for crisis intervention, and offer a sense of solitude during the acute phase. It is also advantageous to incorporate family members in providing transportation, making follow up appointments, and assisting with medication adherence.
There are also many barriers presented in trying to incorporate family into caring for the individual with a MHC. According to Breunlin and Jacobsen (2014), economical barriers such as financial constraints may prevent family therapy. Family members of an individual with a MHC could also be an enabler during an acute phase which would hinder treatment. On the contrary, some family members may even believe that the individual with a MHC are intentionally exhibiting behaviors instead of recognizing the actions as part of the illness. The family nurse should provide social support systems that can cushion the family from the emotional anguish, provide resources and support groups, and set limitations on what can be done during an exacerbation (Kaakinen et al., 2015). According to Kaakinen, Coehlo, Steele, Tabacco, and Harmon Hanson (2015), research has proven that family members of an individual with MHC endure emotional and physical distress such as embarrassment, guilt, grief, decreased immune response, and inadequate health. A family nurse should provide empathy without passing judgement and guide family members to seek additional support.
A family nurse must be diligent in balancing benefits and barriers when incorporating family into the care of the mental health patient to be effective in providing a successful outcome. Family members can be beneficial in providing emotional support. On the other hand, family members can hinder care of an individual with a MHC. A family nurse must be able to adequately assess the family’s situation without bias or judgement. Working with the family as a whole is integral in caring for the individual with a MHC.