helping families to cope and support their loved one living with mental illness nami orange county
TRANSCRIPT
Helping Families To Cope and Support
Their Loved One Living with Mental Illness
NAMI Orange County
NAMI Family Support Services
• Family to Family
• Basics
• Family Support Group
NAMI Approach
• Education
• Support
• Advocacy
Education
• Teach from the “lived experience”• Peer informed• Non-judgmental• Collaborative• Journey
Common Themes
• Stigma prevents recognition
• Mental illness is traumatic
• Collaborative support is essential
• Recovery happens (maintain hope)
Recovery and the Family:
Stage One• Dealing with the catastrophic event• Crisis, chaos, shock • Denial - disbelief• Hope against hope• Trauma response: Flight from
recognition
• Needs• Support/comfort• Empathy for pain & confusion• Crisis intervention resources• Information - prognosis
Recovery and the Family: Stage Two
• Learning to cope• Anger, guilt, resentment• Recognition, grief• Trauma: Flight from fear, anguish,
powerlessness
• Needs• Vent feelings, letting go• Networking, support: keep hope alive• Education, skill training, self care• Cooperation from the system
Recovery and the Family:
Stage Three• Moving into advocacy• Understanding, acceptance• Action, advocacy• Trauma response: Mastering
loss/stigma through reparative work
• Needs• Restoring balance in life• Responsiveness from system• Activism
Understanding the Journey
• Life before mental illness
• Dealing with the catastrophic event
• Learning to cope
• Moving into advocacy
Family Education Presentation
• Audience• Comments• Questions
• Panel• Responses• Answers
NAMI Family Education Services
• Break - brief
NAMI Family Support Group
• Facilitated by NAMI trained peers
• Rules/Guidelines for meetings
• Principles of support
• Structured agenda for each meeting
Family Support Group Guidelines
• Start & stop on time• Time limit for opening stories
(2-3 minutes)• Absolute confidentiality• Be respectful• Keep it in the here and now• Empathize with each other
Family Support Group Principals
• We will see the individual first, not the illness• We recognize that mental
illnesses are brain disorders• We aim for better coping skills• We find strength in sharing
experiences
Family Support Group Principals
• We reject stigma in ourselves and others• We won’t judge anyone’s pain as
less than our own• We forgive ourselves and reject
guilt• We embrace humor as healthy
Family Support Group Principals
• We accept that we cannot resolve all problems• We expect a better future in a
realistic way• We will never give up hope!
NAMI Family Support Group Agenda
• Welcome• Read principles and rules• Opening stories (2-3 minutes)• Group discussion• Closing
Family Support Group Demonstration
NAMI Family Support Group
• Audience• Comments• Questions
• Members• Responses• Answers
NAMI Family Support Services
• Closing comments
NAMI Orange County1810 E. 17th St.
Santa Ana, CA [email protected]