5 Points to Remember About Mental Illness in the Family

Especially in the beginning, when a family is dealing with a loved one's mental illness, it's easy to become embroiled in the emotion of it all. In this television interview, I discuss the 5 points to remember about mental illness in the family.

What Families Should Consider When Dealing with Mental Illness

1. Mental Illness can happen even with the most excellent parenting. It's an illness. No shame.
2. A correct diagnosis can take years, especially as symptoms develop inconsistently and overlap. Patience helps - and is difficult.
3. An educated family is an asset to healthcare providers and to the person living with mental illness.
4. If your provider does not listen to family or patient input, find another provider.
5. A variety of treatment options helps the possibility of better outcomes. Keep researching, please! There is a long way to go - but still there is more hope now than there was in the past. Don't stop the fight to develop better treatments. Please.