Watching someone you care about struggle with a mental health issue puts you in an extremely difficult situation, and their struggles can tear a family apart.
Watching someone you care about struggle with a mental health issue puts you in an extremely difficult situation. Your loved one may or may not be aware that they have a problem, and the full effect of their issues can tear your family apart. Outside of addiction and substance abuse disorders, common mental health problems relate to depression, anxiety, past trauma, self-esteem and self-destructive behavior.
Someone with a moderate to severe mental health disorder may not be in a mental state that allows them to seek treatment on their own initiative. If you have a loved one struggling with mental health issues, call our experienced team at (850) 563-9776 for compassionate help. We provide free consultations and advice to every caller.
The irony of mental health issues is that those who are in the most need of help are the ones who are least likely to seek professional help.
Appropriate support of family and friends is important to helping someone living with a mental health disorder. An intervention for mental health issues has to be handled with the utmost compassion, with no finger-pointing or assigning of guilt from the family, to have a chance for success and buy-in from your loved one in getting them into appropriate treatment for their disorder.
There are different types of interventions for mental health issues, usually determined by the type of mental health issue that is occurring. A crisis intervention is called for when your family member is in the middle of an episodic event. This can be related to someone suffering from schizophrenia experiencing catatonic or delusional behavior. There also are interventions that are appropriate for gradually worsening mental health conditions.
A slowly progressing mental health condition can be marked by signs of emotional distress, social problems, problems with family activities, poor workplace performance, and worsening communication skills in general. The challenge with mental health is there is a wide spectrum to account for: "high functioning" people suffering from anxiety or depression can show barely visible signs, while others can struggle to get out of bed to fulfill their daily obligations.
Many families call us about a loved one whose struggles do not fit neatly into one box. Clinicians commonly see mental health conditions and substance use disorders occurring together, each feeding the other: someone drinks to quiet anxiety, or uses stimulants to escape depression, and the substance use then deepens the underlying condition. That is why our interventions look at the whole person, and why our treatment navigation work focuses on programs equipped to treat co-occurring disorders rather than just one symptom.
If your loved one's struggle involves alcohol or drugs alongside their mental health, tell us on the first call. It changes the plan, and planning for it honestly gives your loved one the best chance at real, lasting recovery. Organizations like NAMI and SAMHSA also offer excellent education for families.
An intervention is a planned, thoughtful process, and it is not the right tool for an emergency. If your family member is threatening to harm themselves or others, or is unable to care for themselves safely, call 911. If they are in emotional distress or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, free and confidential, 24 hours a day.
Once the immediate crisis has passed, that is often exactly the right time to plan a professional intervention, while the seriousness of the situation is still fresh for everyone. Our team can help you use that window well. Start with a call to (850) 563-9776 or reach out through our contact page.
Yes. Outside of substance use disorders, families call us about depression, anxiety, past trauma, self-esteem and self-destructive behavior. A mental health intervention is handled with the utmost compassion, with no finger-pointing or assigning of guilt from the family.
Tell us on the first call. Clinicians commonly see mental health conditions and substance use disorders occurring together, each feeding the other, and our treatment navigation focuses on programs equipped to treat co-occurring disorders rather than just one symptom.
An intervention is a planned process, not an emergency tool. If your family member is threatening to harm themselves or others, call 911. For emotional distress or thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, free and confidential, 24 hours a day.
One confidential conversation with a professional interventionist. No pressure, no obligation. We'll help you find the right next step for your family.
