STEP 2: WORKING WITH PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Learning to cope with a mental illness requires a
treatment plan developed by a professional. A clear and specific plan
gives the individual with mental illness direction and builds confidence.
The role of a caregiver is to learn about and strengthen the treatment
plan developed by a professional. The caregiver strengthens the plan by
teaching the following principles and encouraging the following behavior
changes. The commitment to follow the treatment plan generated by the
professional is the key to cope with mental illness. The speed of
progress and the degree of recovery varies and depends on the severity
of the illness, the effort to follow treatment, and the support of
others. In some cases there are real limitations caused by the person’s
illness that must be considered when encouraging them to follow the
professional treatment plan.
I. CONSULT WITH THE PROFESSIONAL
When a person with mental illness is
capable and responsible to manage their own treatment the caregiver and
clergy assume a supportive role and move on to the next section:
Strengthen the Individual’s Recovery. When a person with mental
illness does not follow through with treatment, then the caregiver or
another responsible adult should arrange to communicate with the
professional.
Laws require the person with mental
illness to sign a release form prior to the professional disclosing
information to a caregiver. This form must be signed by the individual
at the professional’s office. The release form should give permission for
a responsible family member, to discuss the individual’s concerns with
the professional. After the release of information form has been signed,
have the responsible family member contact the professional. If no
responsible family member is available, the caregiver can make the
contact. The contact is usually made by phone.
II. STRENGTHEN THE INDIVIDUAL’S RECOVERY
Caregivers and family members need to
help those with mental illness to accept responsibility for their
illness and recovery to the best of their ability. The following is a
list of tasks that a caregiver and family members can do to strengthen
the person’s recovery.
Compliance with professional’s
treatment plan. When medication or
counseling have been identified as a part of the professional treatment
plan, encourage the person to take the medication as prescribed and
regularly attend therapy appointments. A responsible family member or
caregiver should report back to the professional when the person is not
complying.
Learn about mental illness.
There is a significant amount of information available about most mental
illnesses and their treatment. To the extent possible, the individual
with mental illness needs to learn about their own mental illness, and
the treatment available to them.
Healthy food and personal hygiene.
Those struggling with mental illness will benefit from eating a healthy
diet, having clean and appropriate clothes, and access to bathing
facilities.
Meaningful productivity.
Self-esteem is closely related to participating in productive activity.
Some form of productive activity can be maintained by everyone. It is
important that the individual finds a place where a meaningful
contribution can be made no matter how trivial the task. Such activities
can include a job, volunteer work or hobbies.
Exercise regularly.
Regular physical activity is important. Walking every day can be
helpful. Some medications cause weight gain as a side effect and this
makes exercising even more critical.
Reduce stress.
Everyone needs to learn to cope on a day-to-day basis to reduce stress
in their life. It is important to help develop structure. The goal of
the structure in part would be to eliminate or reduce unnecessary
stress.
Attend church and develop spiritual
strength. There are many ways to increase
spirituality. Emphasize the importance of prayer, scripture study,
meditation, and church attendance in developing spiritual strength.
Clergy may consider giving blessings, having special fasts or provide
spiritual counsel.
Maintain contact with family.
Persons with mental illness often withdraw from family and friends.
Family can be a tremendous resource and regular contact is important. At
times some family members can be an additional source of stress and
contact should be made with caution.
Attend community support groups.
Individuals with severe cases of mental illness may also benefit from
participating in community support groups. These groups can provide
additional insight because of their common challenge and their search
for solutions. When deciding upon a community support group, evaluate
their usefulness by asking questions about their purpose and practices.
The Bridges classes provided by National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
are excellent resources. A listing of these meetings can be obtained
from NAMI. There is no charge for these classes. NAMI and other
resources are listed below. In severe cases of mental illness the
caregiver should encourage the individual and family to learn about
government-sponsored day treatment programs and make the decision to
possibly attend.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUPS
General support and education group
resources to help cope with mental illness.
III. TEACH ABOUT GOD’S LOVE AND INDIVIDUAL WORTH
Those with mental illness and those who live with
them, often experience feelings of guilt, anger, or shame because of the
mental illness. They may be isolated from church and other activities
because of disruptive behaviors associated with the mental illness.
Teach the individual and the family that regardless of what others think
or regardless of how severe the illness is, that God continues to love
them and there is hope for the future.
(See Romans 8:35)
Through the experience of mental illness many begin
to think less of themselves. They may blame themselves or others around
them for their illness. Teach those with mental illness and their family
about their inherent worth because they are Heavenly Father’s children!
God values His children for reasons far different than the world does.
He "seeth not as man seeth; for man
looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."
(1 Sam. 16:7.) In the scriptures the Lord uses words like "Great" (D & C
18:10) and "Precious" (Alma 31:35; D & C 109:43) to describe his
children.
IV. STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP
Ideally, the family is the best source of support.
However, in some situations the person with mental illness may not have
family members who can assist. A support group can include the spouse,
family, friends, caregiver, clergy and other church members. The purpose
of a support group is to encourage those with mental illness to remain
motivated, give support, strengthen the sense of accountability, and
provide consequences for lack of effort. The possibility of having a
mental illness can be overwhelming to an individual and their family.
The withdrawal and isolation which can be associated
with mental illness, are reduced when the support groups becomes
involved in the individual’s life. Professionals and caregivers can ask
permission to contact the spouse, parents, or others to invite them to
participate in a support group. Some of these individuals may also be
able to help the caregiver develop a support group. Invite those
interested in being a member of the support system. If the individual
with mental illness does not want others involved, resolve their
concerns. They need to realize that individuals with mental illness make
greater progress when others such as their spouse or parents are
helping. Those helping the individual with mental illness need to
maintain unity through close communication with each other. The
following is a list of suggestions caregivers can assist the family
members to accomplish.
Learn about mental illness.
Learning about the mental illness will help the family develop
acceptance and empathy for the individual. With understanding and
acceptance the family can more effectively support and help the
individual to locate and to follow through with mental health
interventions. Learning about mental illness also helps reduce the
stigma. Sources of information are listed in the table, Information About Mental Illness
on page 6 and the handout, Mental
Illnesses Are Brain Disorders on
page 20.
Attend community support groups.
Family members can also benefit from participating in community support
groups. NAMI provides two different resources for families. First Family – To –Family educational classes and Family Support Groups
for long-term support. See Community
Support Groups table on page 12.
Maintain contact with the professional.
As needed, a responsible family member should make regular contact with
the professional providing treatment. The purpose of the contact is to
facilitate communication about progress and challenges the person with
mental illness may be experiencing.
Accept feelings and thoughts related
to the mental illness. Disruption of
family relationships and daily activities is common when a family member
develops a severe mental illness. Denial, confusion, discouragement,
grief, anger, shame and fear are some of the responses normally
experienced by family members adjusting to severe mental illness. These
thoughts or feelings are typical. Help them work through and resolve
these concerns by listening and providing educational resources.
Learn to handle unusual behavior and
crises. Some individuals with mental
illness exhibit unusual behaviors. These behaviors can be disruptive,
difficult to accept and may result in a crisis. In difficult situations
family members need to consult with mental health professionals and law
enforcement.
Accept the limitations caused by
mental illness. Mental illnesses are brain
disorders that impair an individual’s ability to cope at school, work,
home, and church. Although professional care can improve the coping
ability, some limitations may still remain. The degree of limitations
caused by mental illness varies depending on the type and severity of
mental illness.
Take time out.
It is common for the individual with the mental illness to become the
focus of family attention. When this occurs, other members of the family
may feel ignored or resentful. Some may find it difficult to pursue their
own interests. Encourage family members to take time out to prevent
becoming frustrated or angry. Often, respite care is available for those
living with the mentally ill.
Resolve financial problems associated with treatment.
Some persons with severe mental illness will require financial assistance
for housing, treatment, and medical costs over a long period of time.
Professionals and caregivers should assist family members with locating
government sponsored benefits such as social security disability. In the
United States the website Government Benefits, provides an
excellent source for finding financial assistance for those with serious
mental illness
GOVERNMENT BENEFITS
If necessary attend counseling.
In some situations family members need professional counseling to help
them to better understand and cope with those who have mental illness.
V. MAINTAIN CONTACT
Caregivers should maintain periodic
contacts with those who have a mental illness and their families
VI. IMPLEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
Be careful in rescuing the individual
with mental illness from any unwanted consequence involving mental
illness. Cautiously and prayerfully evaluate any decision on your part
to protect the individual with mental illness from consequences. Also
caution the members of the family support group to do likewise.
Experiencing the consequences of inappropriate behavior-including legal,
family, financial and spiritual consequences can produce growth. As
needed, a responsible family member should maintain contact with the
professional and the caregiver. The family member should inform the
professional about the individual’s progress and compliance with
treatment.
If the individual with mental illness does end up in
the legal system do all that is possible to inform the legal authorities
concerning the person’s mental illness. The professional, family members
or others can ask the judge to give specific consequences that will help
the individual. If the individual continues to fail to engage in
adequate coping behavior it may be necessary to intervene. See Step
3: Dealing with the Lack of Progress for ideas of how to intervene. |
