Twenty-six percent, more than a quarter, of Americans struggle with mental illness each year. For women, the percentage is even higher, with almost a third of women at any age suffering from mental illness. Mental illness is common, but it is overly demonized. In fact, researchers note that two-thirds of people with mental illness forgo proper treatment due to outside biases. If someone you love is experiencing mental health issues, then you can play an important role in eliminating bias while you make sure your loved one gets the treatment he/she deserves and needs.
Learn whatever you can
Mental illness is not a personal failure, nor is it a choice. It is not in the control of the person you love. Do what you can to learn about your loved one’s specific illness and condition, which will make you more sensitive and careful, while offering you the possibility of becoming an advocate. If your loved one agrees, you might consider talking to his/her primary care physician. If not, then you will need to spend some time online to learn about the symptoms of the disease. Some need-to-know questions include.
– What are the most common symptoms of this disease?
–How does the disease affect your life?
–What are the best treatment options?
–What are some of the life practices that can help remedy the situation?
–What do patients find most helpful?
–What are some of the common problems that people with the disorder experience? For example, people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are often disturbed by “reasons” that remind them of the traumatic event, while people with depression may be tired of positive attitudes that heal them.
Watch Your Words
You already know that sexism and racism are wrong, and you probably know that using the special “r” prefix can be hurtful. People with mental illness face insults and discrimination every day, and the words you use can alleviate and mitigate these situations. Discuss your everyday words with the people you love because they understand which words will offend them and which will not. For example, for some people with mental illness, the word “mental illness” is offensive because it implies that part of the person is bad, wrong, and sick. Others may feel that the term has no special meaning because it simply attributes their symptoms to a health problem.
Some broad recommendations for language sensitivity include.
– Avoid insulting language, such as crazy crazy.
–Don’t use your loved one’s illness as a substitute for a term of endearment. He/she is not “depressed”, he/she is just someone who is depressed.
–Don’t blame the illness for everything your loved one does.
–Don’t let more people know about your loved one’s illness unless he/she gives you permission to do so.
–Use “person-first” language. A person is not a person with autism but a person with autism. Some people with mental illness see this as a way to emphasize the attributes of being human.
Listen, listen, listen
The person you love is an expert in his/her life experiences life experiences. Regardless of what the Internet, doctors, and clinicians tell you, it is the person who is afflicted with the illness who knows best what the illness may bring to life. If you want to know, then ask the person you love first and listen carefully to his/her answers. These questions include.
–What can I do to help you fight this disease?
–How does it feel for you to have these symptoms?
–What do you think about the treatment options available to you?
–What are some things you think I need to understand about the challenges you are facing?
Complementary Therapies
If your loved one trusts and respects you, one of the best things you can do is to prepare him/her with the resources needed for treatment. Learn about possible treatments for your loved one’s symptoms and help him/her find a good clinician or psychiatrist. Sometimes the initial meeting can be a little intimidating, so it’s best for you to be with him/her, help him/her design a list of questions, or act as his/her loving caregiver if the meeting is too depressing.
Protect his/her rights
The mass media often portrays people with mental illness as dangerous and unstable miscreants. However, the truth is that people with mental illness are more likely to be victims than perpetrators. In fact, mental illness makes an individual 300% more likely to become a victim.
Protecting the rights of your loved ones is the most important thing, including the right to stop treatment. Remember, even if medication sounds like a good idea to you, its side effects may be intolerable to the person you love. It is not fair to deny him/her autonomy unless he/she is a threat to him/herself or others. Some practices that can make you a loving advocate for your loved one.
–Acknowledge that he/she is comfortable with the treatment team and the treatment process.
– Read the mental health laws in private. For example, under what circumstances can a person be admitted to a hospital against his/her will?
–Assure that he/she has a safe living environment.
–ask what you can do to promote your loved one’s safety and independence.
Remember, some people with mental illness will want and need a lot of help. Under no circumstances is it best to remind the person you love that he/she is mentally ill. Let your loved one guide you to the right path and don’t be afraid to ask what you can do to help him/her if you aren’t sure.