Support Networks and Mental Illness

Support Networks and Mental Illness 
 
For anyone who is living with a mental illness, know the right support network is just as important as the right medications.

An effective or ineffective support network can make or break someone during a mental health crisis, during times of high mental stress, or can even exacerbate mental illness when in symptom remission. Medications are prescribed and designed to treat mental illness symptoms; however, with an inadequate support network (among other factors) someone may not respond to medications as intended. Suicide rates are higher among those with a mental illness and an ineffective support network.

Have you ever noticed that when someone has an illness such as cancer, a broken limb, or even a traumatic brain injury there is an increased level of caring support given to that individual? Why is this? Well it is widely known that support and caring helps the healing process.

As problems most often have solutions, here are a few solutions to create an effective support network for those with mental illnesses:
 

1. Be aware of the importance of an effective support network for anyone living with a mental illness.
2. Remember that those who live with a mental illness, have illnesses. This means their illness is just as worthy of receiving effective caring support, just as anyone else with any other type of illness.
3. Be considerate, as those who have mental illnesses do not choose to have mental illnesses. You can choose to be an effective source of caring support.
4. Offer the same type of support that would be offered to anyone with a chronic illness, hold the stigma, hold the discrimination, increase the empathy.
5. Allow someone with a mental illness to choose if you are part of their support network or not. Just because you are a close friend/family member, it doesn’t mean you are the best option for an effective mental health support network for someone living with a mental illness. Perhaps the type of support you offer is unhealthy for someone with a mental illness, even this may be unhealthy for you. Allow someone with a mental health illness to say “No Thanks” to your offered support, just as it would be ok for someone with another type of illness to say “No Thanks.” Be aware of unhealthy practices, toxic non-supportive relationships- even among friends and family members.
6. Be aware that suicide prevention includes the provision of medications to treat suicidality as well as an effective support network to support recovery.
7. Do your research, search for other non-conventional and effective ways to be supportive of someone living with a mental illness. Even learn to support yourself, and find adequate support for yourself, if you are living with a mental illness.

 
Remember you and those who live with mental illnesses are not alone. An effective support network for those living with a mental illness, can be the difference between life or death.

Xoxo Nurse Rose