How can I have healthy relationships with family members and friends living with a mental illness?

1. Offer practical help. Drive or be present at appointments.
2. Give respect. Honor the need for, and right to, privacy; and always treat others with dignity and respect regardless of circumstance.
3. Establish a support network. Seek your own support from family and friends. Self-help and support groups also provide an opportunity to talk with others in similar situations.
4. Take time out. Pursuing your own interests will help you remain patient and compassionate. You can only help others when you are physically and emotionally healthy.
5. Maintain hope. There is hope for recovery, and with treatment, many people with mental illnesses have happy, productive, fulfilling lives.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 12th, 2010 at 4:35 am and is filed under Mental Health, Wisdom. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.