Where to Get Help if your Friend is Suffering from Mental Health Issues.pdf - USER

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Where to Get Help if your Friend is Suffering from Mental Health Issues? Providing Support for a Mentally Ill Friend or Family Member When someone you care for falls ill, it can be terrifying. It's much scarier if they've been diagnosed with a mental disorder. They need mental resilience. It's difficult to see anyone you care for in pain, and it's perplexing when anyone you know doesn't behave like themselves. You know what to do if they have a cough or the flu, so what do you do if they have a mental illness? Someone suffering from a mental disorder, like everyone else, needs extra love and support as well as mental health support. You may not be able to see the disease, but that doesn't mean you can't help. How should we help? Support from family and friends is an important part of supporting someone who is suffering from a mental disorder, according to research. This assistance includes a network of both practical and emotional assistance. Family, children, siblings, spouses or partners, extended families, close friends, and those who care for us, such as neighbors, colleagues, coaches, and teachers, make up these networks. Certain may have wider networks than others, but we all have at least a few people who are able to help us out when we need it. There are a variety of ways that family and friends can support someone in their recovery from mental illness: Recognizing any changes in behaviour patterns : Early intervention is critical in the treatment of mental illness. When something goes wrong, family and friends are always the first to notice. For signs to look out for, see “How do I know when to help?” on the next tab. Since finding a medication that works is always a trial and error process, family members may be the first to detect changes. How should I go about doing this? TIP: Become more familiar with the signs and symptoms of various mental disorders. Learn more about how medications work so you'll know what to expect in terms of side effects, what to look for them, and which ones to look for first. According to a new report, when the family is educated about the disease, the odds of their loved ones relapsing are cut in half in the first year. Families and friends can be powerful advocates of helping loved ones get through the difficult early stages of a mental disorder. They will assist their loved one in determining the best care option for them. They may also play an important role in educating professionals of what's going on, filling in information that the sick person might not be able to explain on their own. TIP: Offer to make the initial appointments with a family doctor to figure out what's wrong, or accompany your loved one to the doctor—these steps can be difficult if your loved one is tired or has attention issues. If you do decide to accompany the individual, collaborate with them in advance to write down any notes or questions you might have so that you can cover all of the major points. If your loved one chooses to go it alone, express your encouragement and inquire if there is anything you can do to assist them. Assisting with prescriptions, appointments, and treatments: If you spend a lot of time with your family, you can assist them in remembering to take their medications. You may also be able to assist a doctor in determining whether drugs aren't being taken as prescribed. Similarly, you might be interested in reminding your loved one to complete their counseling homework or use their light therapy treatment every morning, or to schedule and keep treatment appointments. TIP: If your loved one is having difficulty taking their medicine, urge them to speak with their doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to recommend strategies for making pill taking more convenient. Encourage your loved one to write down their thoughts and questions and consult with their doctor if there are any other issues with taking medication, such as side effects. Help them find a new doctor if they don't get along with their current one. Providing emotional support: You will make someone who isn't doing well feel less isolated and ashamed by providing emotional support. They are not to blame for their disease, but they may assume they are or be receiving messages to that effect from others. You will contribute to the spread of hope. They will need it for their mental health recovery. TIP: Try to be as understanding, patient, and helpful as possible. TIP: Caring for a sick family member or friend can be exhausting. Know that you, too, need emotional support. Try entering a family support group or mental health support group for individuals who have a mental disorder. There, you can interact with those who are going through similar experiences and they can assist you in working through your own feelings. It's important to ensure that you're still looking after your own mental health. The following are some signs that a friend or family member may be suffering from a mental disorder and may need your assistance: ● They have lost interest in hobbies and other activities that they used to enjoy. ● They seem to be angry or depressed for no apparent cause. ● They don't seem to be enjoying themselves any longer. ● They've told you about strange voices they've heard or disturbing feelings they've had. ● They seem to be emotionally numb, as if they don't feel anything at all. ● They used to be well, but now they still complain about feeling ill. ● They eat a lot more or a lot less than they did previously. ● Their sleeping habits have changed. ● They seem nervous or frightened about circumstances or objects in life that you and others find natural. ● They've been missing work or school for longer and longer periods of time. ● To cope, they've been drinking heavily and/or using drugs. ● They're discussing ending their lives or feeling helpless. ● They keep their distance from their close friends and family members. Resilience Collective Who they are Resilience Collective (RC) is a peer-powered forum dedicated to inspiring peers, or people who have lived with a mental illness. Their resilience education and network services, which are based on co-production values, enable peers to step forward on the road to self-actualisation by providing them with tools and mechanisms to help their own and other peers' recovery journeys. RC helps peers contribute to a holistic approach to mental health solutioning, while raising awareness and encouraging help-seeking for those at risk, by harnessing the peer voice, which speaks to the importance of first-hand experiences and experience of recovery. They hope to promote constructive conversation focused on equitable relationships between peers and society through community-driven participation, eliminating the harmful mindset of "us vs them" and promoting mental resilience in everyone. Vision An inclusive community where persons in recovery from mental health or trauma experiences are empowered to build resilience. Mission To provide a platform for people in recovery to co-develop solutions for the mental health community. To lead the peer support movement in Singapore. To equip and empower people in recovery through education, peer support, and stigma reduction. Core Values Our core values shape the Resilience Collective culture. They help give purpose, improve team cohesion, and create a sense of commitment to our vision and mission. They remind us of our promise to our stakeholders to add value to what we do. Integrity Respect Empathy Potential Unity We act with honesty and authenticity and we practice responsibility and accountability in all our actions Co-Production A collaborative, strengths-based approach, co-production is key to the creation and development of both concepts, content and delivery for Resilience Collective’s programmes and initiatives. Co-production is based on an equal and reciprocal relationship between peers with a lived mental health experience, experts, professionals and others in the community.Through co- production, we harness the shared wisdom and perspectives of all involved to create new approaches in the commissioning, design, delivery, and evaluation of mental health solutions and community engagement. PowerofWE At Resilience Collective, we strongly advocate the PowerofWE. Through leveraging positive synergies between individuals with different perspectives, experiences, and expertise, we are poised to create sustainable solutions which are co-produced, people-centered and holistic. Solutions that speak to a shared vision for the betterment of society in mental wellness and social inclusion. NCSS Mission To provide leadership and direction in enhancing the capabilities and capacity of our members, advocating for social service needs and strengthening strategic partnerships, for an effective social service ecosystem. Vision Compassionate Society Impactful Sector Dignified Lives Core Values As we stay focused on our mission to ensure that every person has the opportunity to live a life of dignity to their fullest potential within society, we are guided by our core values of passion, impact, collaboration, and courage. Passion Our passion is the fuel that drives us through challenges and difficulties. We care intensely about improving the lives of the persons we serve. We believe strongly in what we do and are united as one in our common cause. Impact We seek to make the world a better place for our beneficiaries. We dream big, because even if we fall short, we will have made positive changes. Collaboration We collaborate internally and externally because we achieve more together. We reach across boundaries to help each other progress. Courage We are committed to listening and speaking up. We challenge the status quo to inspire breakthroughs. We do what is right, and not because it is popular or easy. Three Strategic Themes Effective social purpose entities that deliver quality, innovation and sustainable solutions. Quality, innovative and sustainable solutions for an impactful sector. Caring, collaborative and impactful social service ecosystem. Contact Us https://www.ncss.gov.sg/ Ulu Pandan Community Building 170 Ghim Moh Road, #01-02 Singapore 279621 Tel: 6210 2500 Fax : 6468 1012 SAMH About SAMH At SAMH, we improve the lives of persons with mental health issues through rehabilitation and reintegration. Our beneficiaries include youths, students and adults. We are here at every step of their recovery journey, while also providing emotional and practical support to their families and caregivers. Vision Mental Wellness for All Mission To improve the lives of persons with mental illness and provide support for their families To promote acceptance and respect for persons with mental illness To improve the mental resilience of our community Values Professionalism & Respect Compassion & Acceptance Hope & Empowerment Engagement & Collaboration Contact Us https://www.samhealth.org.sg/ Blk 139 Potong Pasir Avenue 3, #01-136 Singapore 350139 Telephone: +65 6255 3222 Email: [email protected] Toll-Free Helpline 1800-283-7019 IMH Vision Adding years of healthy life Mission To promote mental health To promote person-focused service that is integrated, comprehensive, accessible and cost- effective. To pursue continuous learning and research Core Values People-Centredness We value diversity, respect each other and encourage joy in work. Integrity We commit ourselves to the highest standards of ethical conduct. Compassion We care with love, humility and empathy. Stewardship We are responsible for the care of our people, patients and population. Contact Us https://www.imh.com.sg/ Address:Buangkok Green Medical Park 10 Buangkok View Singapore 539747 Main Line / General Enquiries Tel: 6389 2000 24-hour hotline Remember if your friends need mental health support please visit any of the above websites and they need your help with mental resilience. Institute Website Contact Email Address Number Resilience https://www.re Tel : (65) 6932 Email : 176 Orchard silience.org.sg/ 2786 contactus@resil Road, ience.org.sg #05-05 The Centrepoint Singapore 238843 NCSS https://www.nc Tel: 6210 2500 Ulu Pandan ss.gov.sg/ Fax : 6468 1012 Community Building 170 Ghim Moh Road, #01-02 Singapore 279621 SAMH https://www.sa Toll-Free Email: Blk 139 Potong mhealth.org.sg/ Helpline enquiry@samh Pasir 1800-283-7019 ealth.org.sg Avenue 3, #01- 136 Singapore 350139 IMH https://www.im Main Line / Address:Buangk h.com.sg/ General ok Green Enquiries Medical Park Tel: 6389 2000 10 Buangkok 24-hour hotline View Singapore 539747