Tag / mental illness

file cabinet folders showing types of mental illness
by karentwinem

Mental Illness in the USA: Pandemic Edition

Note: The National Institute of Mental Health, Mental Health America and NAMI have all released statistics about the state of mental health in America. Much reports on the year 2020, the first of the pandemic. Below are highlights from the reports. You can see the full information by clicking on each organization’s link above.

Twenty-one percent of U.S. adults experienced mental illness in 2020. That’s 52.9 million people. The annual prevalence of condition for 2020 is:

  • Anxiety Disorders: 48 million people (19.1% of U.S. population)
  • Major Depression: 21 million (8.4%)
  • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: 9 million (3.6%)
  • Bipolar Disorder: 7 million (2.8%)
  • Borderline Personality Disorder: 3.5 million (1.4%)
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: 3 million (1.2%)
  • Schizophrenia: 1.5 million (less than 1%)

Fifty percent of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14 and 75 percent by age 24. About 7.7 million U.S. children ages 6-17 experienced a mental health disorder.

The percentage of people getting treatment continues to be low (46% of adults, 65% of adults with severe mental illness and 50% of youth). The average delay between the onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years. And the number of U.S. counties that do not have even one practicing psychiatrist: 55%.

Impact of Mental Illness in 2020

Mental illness and substance use disorders are in involved in one out of 8 emergency room visits (12 million visits). Mood disorders like Bipolar and Major Depression were the most common cause of hospitalization for people under 45, excluding childbirth. People with serious mental illness are:

  • 21% of the homeless
  • 37% of adults in state and federal prisons
  • 44% of adults in local jails
  • 70% of youth in juvenile justice system
  • 15.3% of U.S. veterans

Twenty-five percent of the people shot and killed by police between 2015 and 2020 had a mental illness.

At least 8.4 million Americans provide care to an adult with mental illness. They spend an average of 32 hours per week providing this care, although that seems high to me.

Ranking of States

Mental Health America does an annual ranking of states that show which are doing the best job dealing with mental illness, based on 15 measures. The Top 10 are:

  1. Massachusetts
  2. New Jersey
  3. Pennsylvania
  4. Connecticut
  5. Vermont
  6. New York
  7. Wisconsin
  8. Maine
  9. Maryland
  10. Minnesota

My state, Ohio, fell from No. 11 in the ranking last year to No. 25 because of the large increase in the number of youth who have a mental health diagnosis and are not getting treatment.

988
by karentwinem

988 National Suicide Hotline

A new national suicide hotline number will be available in July: 988.

In Ohio, the 988 number will connect to one of 15 designated lifeline call answering points. Trained mental health specialists will answer the calls, providing both counseling and direction to resources for mental health care.

The new number is based on the success of 911, which has been used as an emergency number for all types of crises since 1968. Officials hope that sending suicide calls to 988 will take pressure off the 911 system, which sends police and/or paramedics to a scene.

The 988 calls will connect people immediately to mental health crisis services. It also will improve the information provided. At present, more than 40 percent of Ohio’s suicide prevention calls are answered by people from other states who don’t know the Ohio system and cannot give advice about accessing its resources.

All this will change with 988. In Ohio, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services is implementing the new line with federal startup funds of $400 million.

In addition to the designated call line, NAMI Ohio is also asking for the development of a better, more thorough crisis response system, allowing the specialist to help direct people to housing, rehabilitation services and employment services. I agree with this, although I know it will be difficult to get the funding. After all, it doesn’t help much to answer the phone if you can’t direct people to the help they need.

by karentwinem

Loving Someone With Mental Illness Support Group

Loving Someone With Mental Illness is a Vineyard Columbus support group that’s open to all. We meet at 7 p.m. Eastern Time on the first and third Thursdays on Zoom. Meetings last about one hour.

We share, have a brief teaching and pray for each other. The conversation is confidential. The teachings include practical information about helping loved ones with mental illness. We also include faith-based teachings on how to walk with Jesus through this difficult situation.

As leaders of the group, my husband and I have loved ones who have diagnosed mental illnesses. The group has been in existence for more than 10 years. You are welcome to attend regularly or whenever you feel the need.

To obtain the Zoom information, feel welcome to email karentwinem@gmail.com

sad caregiver at Christmas
by karentwinem

Holiday Tips When Someone You Love Has a Mental Illness

The holidays can be some of the worst days of the year when your family is dealing with mental illness.  Not only is it TOO DARN DARK AND COLD, but it’s also a time when expectations of being Merry and Bright can seem especially hard for your family. The stress can make your loved one have more symptoms, and that can make you even more anxious.

Here are 14 tips to handling the holidays. Some ideas were suggested by an excellent book:  “When Someone You Love Has a Mental Illness: A Handbook for Family, Friends, and Caregivers” by Rebecca Woolis.  Others are things I’ve learned, often the hard way, over time.

  1. Accept this ain’t gonna be pretty.  If you can get rid of your unrealistic expectations and be honest with your loved one and all the other family members, it will go better.
  2. Help your loved one to keep her dignity. Provide a gift fund or another way to allow her to give gifts, so she won’t feel left out if she has no money. Scan every situation that’s coming up to make sure that your loved one won’t get unwelcomed attention.
  3. Hey, it’s a good excuse to keep the unofficially crazy family members away.  You want a small gathering of your own family. Period. Otherwise it’s too stressful for your loved one.
  4. Keep it short. Keep it informal.  If you have to do the Big Family Thing, let your loved one stay home. Big groups are too much for your loved one, especially when you have to Put On a Happy Face. And do your own celebration. 
  5. If any extended family members really want to see your loved one, they know your phone number and where you live. Something private is better.  And try not to be bitter if no one asks. (There’s a reason God chose you to be this person’s lifeline. Not everyone can deal with this.)
  6. The best answer I’ve found to the question … How is he? … is “About the same.” That’s tough enough for you to answer.  So please don’t put your loved one in a situation where he or she has to answer the question.
  7. If you are having an event at your house, discuss it in advance with your loved one so he or she knows what to expect. Accept his limits.  Accept her choices. Acknowledge his feelings. 
  8. If the person wants to be more visible during the holiday, brainstorm some things in advance.  What will he say when asked how he is? What will she do during the gathering? Is there a quiet place to retreat if needed?
  9. Tell the person whose home you are visiting what you may need in advance.  Please don’t put yourself in a position … helping cook at someone else’s home, for example … where you can’t leave with little notice. If you are stuck, have someone … a sibling or spouse … available to get the person home if needed. 
  10. All your great preparation may result in your loved one refusing to participate at the last minute. And that’s OK. 
  11. If someone offers to help you with any holiday preparation, ACCEPT. 
  12. When you make out your own Christmas wish list, see if you can ask for things that will reduce stress, whether it’s a massage, a day trip, a cleaning service or a gym membership. 
  13. Eat right. Avoid the alcohol. Sleep. And write out a list of things that you are grateful for this year.
  14. A nice thank you card to people who have been helpful to your loved one personally or professionally is always good.
job interview sticky note
by karentwinem

Jobs for People With Mental Illness

Note: The sources for this post are NAMI.org, southeast.org, ood.ohio.gov, “When Someone You Love Has a Mental Illness” by Rebecca Woolis and my own experience working for a program that linked jobs to people with mental illness.

Families of people with mental illness frequently pin much hope on their loved ones getting jobs. It can even become almost a fixation. “If he would just get a job …” There’s often hope that a job will lead to more stability, but it usually has to be the other way.

Unfortunately, many people with mental illness are too ill to function in the workplace. They lose job after job, not because they are difficult, but because they are too ill.

However, once a person is on a treatment plan, symptoms can reduce. Increased stability makes it more possible for the person to have a positive work experience. Others can never deal with the stress of a full-time job, which can make symptoms worse. But they may be able to work part-time or on a volunteer basis, instead.

What the Law Says

As we said previously, the lack of sufficient funding for people with mental illness has a big impact on their families. There’s not enough money to hire enough case managers, social workers and vocational counselors. So families often have to get involved to ensure the system works for their loved one.

The first step to getting involved is understanding what the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) says. And what it does not say.

Most government regulations define an individual with a disability as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more life activities: walking, talking, hearing, seeing, learning, performing manual tasks, caring for oneself, thinking, concentrating and interacting with others. This applies to most people with severe and persistent mental illness.

Title 1 of the ADA covers private employers with 15+ employees, state and local governments, services funded by the government, labor unions and employment agencies. It prohibits them from discriminating against qualified individuals who have disabilities in hiring, firing, advancement, etc. The law does not cover employers with less than 15 employees.

The law says employers may not ask prospective employees about the existence, nature or severity of a disability. What they can do is ask about the prospective employee’s abilities to do the job. (Remember: The law protects qualified people with disabilities.) And none of this applies if the person has an active substance abuse problem.

The ADA requires that employers provide reasonable accommodation to the known mental limitations of an individual with a mental disability unless it would impose an undue hardship on the employer’s business. Undue hardships are due to significant difficulty or expense to the employer based on size, financial resources, etc. 

Reasonable accommodations include job restructuring, part time or modified work schedules, reassignment to a vacant job position, and modification of training materials.

The ADA also impacts colleges and universities. It can require them to restructure exams and materials. Many universities and colleges have offices for disabled students that help them get reasonable accommodations.

Returning to Work Gradually

One pathway to returning to working is to move through a system that gradually requires more responsibility and work skills. This can mean starting as a volunteer in an organization with tasks and required hours.

Then, if this works, vocational rehabilitation counselors can help the person find supportive employment, maybe even part-time. In supportive employment, the employer knows that the worker has a mental illness under treatment. This helps the employer to understand if problems arise and to contact the vocational counselor.

Finally, once a person has the workplace skills and dependability needed, they can get a job.

Getting a Job in Ohio

Since I have lived and worked in Ohio, it is the system I know. Other states’ systems may vary.

The Ohio Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation provides people with disabilities the services and support to get and keep jobs. The bureau’s staff does these things:

  • Evaluation and treatment of an individual’s disability
  • Information and referral services
  • Vocational counseling and training
  • Job search and job placement assistance
  • Educational guidance (tuition resources and other support)
  • Transportation services
  • Occupational tools and equipment
  • Personal attendant services (reader, interpreter, etc.).

The bureau customizes its services for each person using assessments and one-on-one meetings with professional vocational rehabilitation counselors.

After an application is completed and submitted, an interview is scheduled between your loved one and a counselor. You or another friend or family member may accompany your loved one to the interview. A counselor will talk about career goals, work history, educational background, disability and the services necessary to reach an employment goal.

Eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services is based on four factors:

  • The individual has a physical, cognitive, or mental impairment documented by the appropriate qualified professional (doctor, psychologist or other).
  • The documented impairment causes a substantial impediment (barrier) to employment.
  • The person can benefit from vocational rehabilitation services that lead to an employment outcome.
  • The person requires vocational rehabilitation to prepare for, secure, retain or regain employment

The vocational counselor will be honest if they feel that your loved one is not ready for employment. How much you have to help your loved one with the meeting is a part of that, whether it is said or not. If your loved one can’t get up to go to the meeting or can’t answer the questions without your help, he or she is probably not yet ready for a job.

When your loved one is determined eligible for services, an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) is created with the counselor. The IPE is an agreement between your loved one and OOD describing services that will be provided according to your loved one’s choices. Your loved one may be responsible for some costs of the vocational rehabilitation plan, especially college tuition.

When your loved one is ready for employment, the counselor and other OOD staff will help them prepare for the job search. The counselor can offer information on accessing public transportation (if available in the community) or arranging for private transportation. The counselor also can help your loved one with job site modifications for accessibility and efficiency.

They also may be able to set up supportive employment, which can transition to a regular job where people are not told about the illness.

OOD also can help your loved one keep the job if they are having trouble working because of their disability. The counselor can work with your loved one and their employer to determine the services necessary.

In Columbus, Southeast Vocational Services, formerly COVA, is another vocational services program.  I served on the board of this organization, which works with everyone from people with PhDs to those with entry level skills.

Its Transitional Employment program or “Project Work” provides temporary employment to people with a history of severe and persistent mental illness and substance abuse disorders. People get up to 1,000 hours of paid employment services within a 12-month period with the goal of moving from transitional employment to permanent employment full or part-time.

Southeast also offers benefits counseling and re-entry support for people leaving prison. Call Southeast at (614) 294-7117 to ask about it.

Filling out applications

It’s best to work with a vocational counselor, social worker or case manager to fill out applications for jobs. Legally, your loved one only needs to elaborate on the diagnosis if it impacts the ability to do the job. Otherwise, they should not volunteer information about their medical history.

They should tell the truth about their employment history. (Again, this is where recent volunteer jobs can come in handy.) The counselor can help with good answers to explain the gaps in the history.

You can practice with your loved one as a coach for the interviews. They may be anxious and fearful, so a practice … even a dress rehearsal … helps. Help your loved one with the appropriate dress. You can fill out the applications together and make copies in case they get lost or damaged. You also can use relatives who have knowledge of the loved one’s level of responsibility for references. If your loved one has had volunteer experience, those individuals also may make great references.

Getting back into the work world can be a great challenge. If benefits are involved, be sure to learn what the impact will be. May God bless you and your loved one in this effort.

housing
by karentwinem

Housing for People with Mental Illnesses

Note: Sources of information for this post are NAMI.org, southeast.org, ood.ohio.gov, “When Someone You Love Has a Mental Illness” by Rebecca Woolis, and my six years working in an organization that provided housing for the mentally ill.

The lack of safe and affordable housing is one of the most powerful barriers to recovery from mental illness. When this basic need isn’t met, people cycle in and out of homelessness, jails, shelters and hospitals.

I agree with a philosophy called Housing First: Having a safe, appropriate place to live can provide stability to allow people with mental illness and/or substance abuse to stabilize and recover. Unfortunately, this housing is relatively rare. It takes organization and effort to get someone into the system.

As we all know, there’s not enough funding to cover the needs of people with mental illness. If the funding existed, case managers, social workers and vocational counselors would be handling housing and money issues for our loved ones. Since there isn’t enough money to go around, families often have to get involved.

Because of this, my No. 1 tip in dealing with the system is to make friends with a social worker. I met social workers at NAMI family support groups and events. This was invaluable in helping me understand how the system REALLY works. I also got excellent advice about where my son should be placed on a waiting list for housing.

What the Law Says

Several pieces of federal legislation prevent discrimination against people with mental illness in employment and housing. The most important in obtaining housing is Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (the Fair Housing Act). For most residential buildings (except some small owner-occupied buildings), this law forbids discrimination, such as refusing to rent or sell, denying that housing is available, and renting or selling on different terms.

That said, a history of arson and/or sexual assault usually keeps individuals out of housing for people with mental illness. Housing for people with mental illness is usually called housing for the disabled, in part to keep the neighbors from fighting it. People who are currently homeless usually get more help from organizations than those who are not.

Obtaining Housing

Many people with a serious mental illness live on Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which averages just 18% of the median income and can make finding an affordable home near impossible.

Housing options range from completely independent living to 24/7 care. The type of housing that is right for your loved one can depend on whether they need assistance paying bills, cleaning and making appointments or require no assistance at all. Here’s a look at some of the housing available.

Supervised Group Housing: Trained staff members are present 24/7 to provide care and assistance with things like medication, daily living skills, meals, paying bills, transportation and treatment management. These group homes provide their residents with their own beds, dressers and closet space, and shared bathrooms and common areas. This is the best type of housing for people experiencing a serious mental illness which may affect their ability to perform their daily tasks.  There’s virtually none of this in my part of the country, central Ohio.

Partially Supervised Group Housing: Some support is provided for the residents, but staff isn’t there 24 hours a day. The residents can be left alone for several hours and are able to call for help if needed. People who choose to stay in these group homes can perform their daily living tasks independently or semi-independently, help with cooking and cleaning and may even hold a part-time job or participate in a day program.

Permanent Supportive Housing: Supportive housing provides very limited assistance. The residents of these homes live almost independently and are visited by staff members infrequently. Community mental health center and social workers on site to help. Health care comes in.

Rental Housing:  Rent can be paid for in full by the individual or subsidized by a third party, such as the government or a non-profit agency. Someone who chooses this type of housing can take care of all their basic needs like cooking, cleaning, paying bills and managing their medication. They also may have a job and have or be seeking custody of children. If this is the right type of housing for your loved one, then they will still most likely work with a caseworker to manage their recovery.

Affordable Senior Housing: When your loved one becomes 55 or older, they usually qualify for affordable senior housing, such as offered by National Church Residences in 25 states. This housing for low-income seniors has no supportive services.

Ways to pay

Section 8: The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides a number of housing assistance and counseling programs. The Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) is the federal government’s program for assisting low-income families, the elderly and the disabled. HUD also helps apartment renters by offering reduced rents to low-income residents. Under this program, a renter pays 30 percent of their gross adjusted income for housing and utilities. The landlord then receives a voucher from the federal government which covers the remainder of the rent.

Section 811: The Supportive Housing for People with Disabilities Program (Section 811) is a federal program dedicated to developing and subsidizing rental housing for very or extremely low income adults with disabilities, like a chronic mental illness. The biggest difference between this program and similar ones is that it provides housing specifically for the disabled and ensures that all housing has access to appropriate supportive services like case management and employment assistance.

Applying for housing

If you can get a social worker or case manager to help fill out applications for jobs and housing, do so. You can practice any interview with your loved one. Interview tips include:

  • Don’t volunteer information about medical history.
  • Do not lie about job history, including positions held or lengths of time worked.
  • If asked about gaps in employment history, you can say “I was recovering from an illness,” “I was participating in a vocational rehab program” or “I was taking some classes.”
  • If there’s concern about ability to pay rent, you can say, “I have a guaranteed disabilities payment.”

Co-signing a lease makes you legally responsible for making sure the rent is paid during the period of the lease. Before you decide to do this, assume that you will pay all the rent and look at how that will impact you. Make your decision based on that. You also may become responsible for damages to the apartment, so be aware of that as well.

Housing in Columbus Metro Area

To apply for Community Housing Network housing, please call the Community Housing Network Intake Department at 614-487-6700. CHN has developed and manages more than 1,200 apartments. CHN provides rent subsidies to an additional 400 residents renting from private landlords. CHN also provides all customary property management.

National Church Residences takes its residents through Community Shelter Board, so call there.

To apply for Unified Supportive Housing System, apply for Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County housing, go to the Community Housing Network website, complete the CHN USHS Housing Request and submit to the CHN Intake Department.

Housing providers include:Alvis, Equitas, Community Housing Network, Maryhaven, National Church Residences, Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio, YMCA, and YWCA. These organizations usually take the homeless first. Ways to be homeless can vary, including couch surfing, or staying for one friend after another.

Next time we will talk about processes for getting a job when your loved one is recovering.

the road to recovery
by karentwinem

Recovery: How Do We Get There?

Note: This information comes from my own lived experience, notes from various seminars I’ve attended and “Grace for the Afflicted: A Clinical and Biblical Perspective on Mental Illness” by Matthew A. Stanford.

No matter how difficult the circumstances are, people who have mental illness may recover. In fact, between 60 percent and 80 percent of people with mental illness who get and stay in treatment show recovery.

Mental illness is a chronic condition, meaning we can manage symptoms but not cure the disease. So what does “recovery” mean?

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration defines recovery as “a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life and strive to reach their full potential.

What does recovery look like?

For people with mental illness, it means going from Distress to Stability to Function to Purpose. For you, it means moving from Caregiver to Manager to Partner to Family.

The process is hardest on Americans because of our culture

Mainstream American culture values individuality and independence more than any other culture. This can cause U.S. caretakers to think caring for an adult is unusual, while it’s accepted as part of life in other cultures.

Recovery requires a holistic recovery effort that takes months or years, not days or weeks. Here are some of the issues that need to be addressed:

Physical needs

Sleeping well: Up to 80 percent of people with mental illness have chronic sleep problems as opposed to 10 to 18 percent of people without. The most common issues are insomnia and late insomnia. This is important because sleep deprivation can result in suicidal ideation, paranoia and agitation. To sleep well, encourage your loved one to try these tips:

  • Have the same bedtime with same routine every night.
  • Reduce caffeine.
  • Talk to their doctor.
  • Take effective medication.
  • Learn relaxation techniques.

Eating healthier

Doing exercise such as walking or gardening

Emotional and mental needs

Developing healthy thinking patterns: Your loved one’s therapist can work with them until they maintain healthy thinking patterns. Some things they need to learn are:

  • How to suppress negative thinking
  • How to accept a negative situation
  • How to recognize cycles and triggers
  • How to take a preventative approach when a relapse seems likely

Doing activities that heal the brain: Research suggests that active mental activities have a healing effect on the brain. Watching TV or movies are passive activities, which do not help. Active mental activities include:

  • Painting and drawing
  • Reading
  • Photography
  • Music
  • Gardening
  • Word games or puzzles

Living a structured life: Daily and weekly routines also reduce stress and bring a sense of safety.

Spiritual needs

Discovering hope in Jesus: We can help our loved ones understand what they mean to God. People with mental illness often feel that God doesn’t love them or that their faith isn’t strong enough. You may be able to help them to understand their identity in Christ. Even heroes of faith like David (Psalm 13), Job (Job 3), and Jeremiah (Lamentations 3) struggled with times of intense hopelessness. Encourage your loved one to share their feelings, requests and gratitude for what is good in prayer.

Finding purpose: Your loved one has a purpose in God’s plan that is just as important to God as everyone else’s. In fact, their heaviest cross … a mental health situation … can be an opportunity for God to manifest in their lives.

Growing spiritually: Focus on God’s love and your loved one’s identity in Christ rather than working on scriptures that focus on sin. Brief daily encouragements from the Bible are better than in-depth Bible study. Encourage them to check with you or others when they think they are hearing directions from God’s voice. Worship is good, but it should not be too stimulating or overwhelming.

Living in community: My church, Vineyard Columbus, has a One-Minded in Christ support group for people with mental health diagnoses. Check to see if you can find something like this in your community.

Relational needs

Stay connected to a few trusted and supportive people: Supportive friends and family are essential to recovery, but the friends and family also need the support of others. Some of the best ways you can help are:

  • Learn to resolve conflict, to defuse your own tension.
  • Learn to validate emotions.
  • Learn to affirm their faith in Christ.
  • Help them find opportunities to serve.

Recovery is possible. As we hope and pray, let’s take these steps to help our loved ones.

exhausted caregiver
by karentwinem

Taking Care of You

As a caregiver, you’ve heard this analogy endless times: Put on your own oxygen mask before you help others. It’s true. Caregivers need times of rest … and reflection.

God urges us to rest in both the Old and New Testaments.

“Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing season and harvest you must rest.”

Moses, Exodus 34:21

“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Jesus, Matthew 11:28

God taught us that rest is a very important Christian concept. We are taught to be obedient in having a regular Sabbath, inclusive of all people and animals in our household, even when it’s the busiest time for making money. God gives rest as a gift to his people in this life and in eternity.

What’s stopping you?

The Family Caregiver Alliance reports that a caregiver between the ages of 66 and 96 who is experiencing mental or emotional strain has a risk of dying that is 63 percent higher than that of people that age who are not caregivers. Despite this scary statistic, caregivers are less likely than others to take care of themselves. The Alliance says that we don’t get enough sleep, have poor eating habits, don’t exercise, don’t stay in bed when we are sick, and don’t go to the doctor when we should.

If that isn’t enough, the Alliance says an estimated 46 percent to 59 percent of us are clinically depressed.

If you collapse, your loved one collapses. So ask yourself why you don’t take care of yourself. The Family Caregiver Alliance offers these questions to consider:

  • Do you think it’s selfish to put your needs first?
  • Do you become scared when you think about what you need? Do you know why?
  • Do you have trouble asking for help?
  • Do you think you need a treat (food, cigarettes, alcohol, a Netflix binge, etc.) because of your caregiving?

Pray through these questions with God and see what you find out. I believe it is God’s will that we take care of ourselves, but I know how hard that is to do. I fail often at it.

Rest and reflection go together

Many psalms, including Psalm 23, talk about rest in a reflective manner. As we are resting, we have the opportunity to look on our lives. Sometimes we are afraid to do that, afraid that the trauma of our loved one’s mental illness is too devastating. Afraid that, if we start crying, we will never stop.

That’s easy to understand. Yet resting and reflecting may give you more energy and more peace of mind for whatever you are facing when you do both regularly.

Taking care of yourself … getting enough sleep, taking a Sabbath, eating nutritious food and moving your body regularly … makes you stronger physically. Spending time with God makes you stronger mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Look for God’s presence in your life

A great way to pray is to look for God’s presence in your life. More than 400 years ago St. Ignatius Loyola encouraged prayer-filled mindfulness by proposing what has been called the Daily Examen. The Examen is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God’s presence and to discern his direction for us. Try this version of St. Ignatius’s prayer.

Become aware of God’s presence. Look back on the events of the day in the company of the Holy Spirit. The day may seem confusing to you—a blur, a jumble, a muddle. Ask God to bring clarity and understanding.

Review the day with gratitude. Gratitude is the foundation of our relationship with God. Walk through your day in the presence of God and note its joys and delights. Focus on the day’s gifts. Look at the work you did, the people you interacted with. What did you receive from these people? What did you give them? Pay attention to small things—the food you ate, the sights you saw, and other seemingly small pleasures. God is in the details.

Pay attention to your emotions. One of St. Ignatius’s great insights was that we detect the presence of the Spirit of God in the movements of our emotions. Reflect on the feelings you experienced during the day. Boredom? Elation? Resentment? Compassion? Anger? Confidence? What is God saying through these feelings?

God will most likely show you some ways that you fell short. Make note of these sins and faults. But look deeply for other implications. Does a feeling of frustration perhaps mean that God wants you consider a new direction in some area of your work? Are you concerned about a friend? Perhaps you should reach out to her in some way.

Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to something during the day that God thinks is particularly important. It may involve a feeling—positive or negative. It may be a significant encounter with another person or a vivid moment of pleasure or peace. Or it may be something that seems rather insignificant. Look at it. Pray about it. Allow the prayer to arise spontaneously from your heart—whether intercession, praise, repentance, or gratitude.

Look toward tomorrow. Ask God to give you light for tomorrow’s challenges. Pay attention to the feelings that surface as you survey what’s coming up. Are you doubtful? Cheerful? Apprehensive? Full of delighted anticipation? Allow these feelings to turn into prayer. Seek God’s guidance. Ask him for help and understanding. Pray for hope.

St. Ignatius encouraged people to talk to Jesus like a friend. End the Daily Examen with a conversation with Jesus. Ask forgiveness for your sins. Ask for his protection and help. Ask for his wisdom about the questions you have and the problems you face. Do all this in the spirit of gratitude. Your life is a gift, and it is adorned with gifts from God. End the Daily Examen with the Lord’s Prayer.

Yes, the Lord’s Prayer does help us to put on our oxygen mask first. For Jesus loves our family members even more than we do.

two sets of family hands holding one heart
by karentwinem

Eight Steps to Balance Family Needs

Information for this post comes from NAMI.com, “When Someone You Love Has a Mental Illness” by Rebecca Woolis, MFCC, and my own experience.

When you have a family member, particularly a child, with a mental illness, it is easy to let your concern for them consume your life. This backfires, damaging you and the rest of your family. These eight steps can help you balance your family’s needs.

1. Take care of yourself.

If you don’t care for yourself, the whole family may suffer even more. You may have to adjust your priorities or your lifestyle, but you should avoid letting the challenges posed by your loved one’s mental health condition make you neglect other important parts of your life.

In some cases, the stress of dealing with a family member can create your own mental health challenges. If you begin to feel that you are struggling with sadness or anxiety, do not hesitate to seek treatment for yourself. Caring for your own mental well-being will serve as a model for your loved one to follow, and ensure that you are healthy and able to care for your family member.

2. Be intentional about time with other family members.

Remember that if you have other children, they may resent being pushed to the side if all the attention is placed on their sibling’s mental health challenges. Make sure that they understand what their sibling is going through, and that you spend time with each of them. Keeping a happy and balanced family can be very helpful in reducing stress levels for everyone, which can help alleviate symptoms of mental illness.

3. Get your family involved.

Don’t try to “spare” family members from stress by taking on all the caretaking yourself. Work together to give everyone in the household roles to play according to their abilities. Include your family member with the illness as well, making his or her responsibilities to the family clear.

Other family members may deal with the challenges and obstacles differently that you would like. So be ready to compromise, listen and be open to new ideas.

It is possible you may discover that some members of your family have little interest in supporting you and your child in dealing with challenges posed by your child’s mental health condition. It is also possible that a spouse or significant other may be a negative influence on your child. They may demand discipline for behaviors your child cannot control, deny that there is anything wrong or insist upon an irrational course of action.

Helping to raise a child who has a mental health condition can be stressful, and it is unrealistic to assume that anyone, yourself included, will always react in an ideal way. However, you must also realize that it is your responsibility to protect your child, even from others that you care about.

4. Resume “normal” activities and routines.

Don’t let life revolve around your family member’s mental health condition. Return to a regular routine within the family. Spend time together on activities unconnected to illness, such as watching a movie, eating dinner out or visiting a favorite park. Practice living life with a mental health condition, rather than struggling against mental illness.

5. Answer these questions to decide how to spend your time.

Consider these questions to find the balance that’s best for you and your family.

  1. How much time can you spend with your ill family member without resenting him or her? (for example:  two hours a day, one visit a week, one phone call a week, etc.)
  2. How much time do you need to spend with your ill family member to keep the relationship as good as possible in the long run?
  3. How much time do other family members want and need?
  4. How much time do you need with the Lord to feel His presence?
  5. How much nurturing do you need, either as time alone or time with well friends and family?
  6. How enjoyable and valuable is the time that you and your ill family member spend together? How do each of you feel after spending time together?
  7. Are other family members showing signs of stress, such as physical symptoms, disturbed sleep and eating habits, or depression and anxiety?

Base your time spent with your loved one, either at home or in a visit, on the answers to these questions.

6. Decide about living at home.

Mentally ill people tend to function as their highest levels and their families do the best when the mentally ill person lives somewhere other than the family home.  However, it is very hard to find permanent supportive housing and other housing for the mentally ill.  It can take years. 

Living at home tends to work best if the loved one:

  • Functions at a relatively high level, without many obvious symptoms.
  • Is female.
  • Has friends and does activities outside the home.
  • Does not have any siblings living at home.
  • Participates in treatment and some type of structured activity outside the home.
  • Has a family that has developed skills to be calm, positive, respectful and nonjudgmental of the ill person.

Having the loved one live at home is not advised when:

  • The symptoms are so disruptive that the family cannot live a normal life.
  • Siblings living at home feel adversely impacted by the ill person.
  • Family members are angry at, frightened off or critical of the ill person.
  • The parents’ marriage is negatively impacted in a strong way.
  • The ill person begins to control family members who are then unable to have their normal routines and activities.
  • The ill relative has no outside friends or activities.
  • The family is a single parent alone.

I believe permanent supportive housing is the best choice for people with mental illnesses. You can check with your local Housing Authority or community shelter system to find out if permanent supportive housing is available in your areas.

Permanent Supportive Housing is based on a Housing First philosophy, an approach that assumes that people are much more likely to become stable, contributing members of society when they have a safe, affordable place to live.

The Housing First approach works by providing safe, affordable housing coupled with supportive services (internal programs and external community resources) tailored to meet each individual’s needs. Residents are strongly encouraged to participate. Activities include:

  • Collaborative team meetings
  • Assessment and referral
  • Case management
  • Life skills training (nutrition, stress management)
  • Education enrichment (GED)
  • Health care education
  • Crisis intervention
  • Recovery support
  • Benefits and financial management assistance
  • Workforce readiness training: volunteer, workforce readiness, supported employment, employment services
  • Joint property management and services apartment inspections
  • Housing retention/eviction prevention planning

If your loved one lives at home, remember: Everyone at home has rights.  Try to keep that balanced with any special considerations for the loved one.

At the same time, be realistic in your expectations about the loved one’s behavior. Have a short list of clear house rules:  No smoking in bed.  No loud television or music after 11 p.m. No violence. Use appropriate consequences when rules are broken.

Keep things as predictable as possible. You and your loved one need to get out of the house at different times and have separate activities.

7. Have successful visits.

If your loved one lives elsewhere, you can have regular visits. A shorter visit can be better than one that’s too long. Be sure to communicate love and compassion.

Stay no longer than an hour if your loved one is in a hospital or locked facility. Do not “overprogram” your visit, so you can have some quiet time with your loved one.

Tie visits to your house to behavior. If your loved one is at your house for a day or longer, continue your normal routine.

8. Make activities together enjoyable.

Please keep in mind that sometimes you can’t make the activities enjoyable, particularly if your loved one is severely depressed or psychotic.  If this is the case, the best thing to do is to make sure your loved one knows that you love them and encourage them to continue treatment.

Many times you can have activities with loved ones.  People with mental illness are uncomfortable with unstructured time when there are no activities and people are making small talk. It’s better to find a common interest to base an activity on:  sports, movies, a game, walking together in a park, or visiting a place that interests you both.

Begin slowly and build, if you haven’t been doing this. I try to schedule an outing once every three weeks.  This is in addition to two visits to the house per week.

The six rules for these activities are:

  1. Be realistic about what your loved one can and cannot do.
  2. Have a specific, prearranged plan for the activity.
  3. Avoid surprises.
  4. Have a contingency plan for what you will do if things go badly.
  5. Give your loved one a specific task to focus on.
  6. Accept the fact that your loved one may not be well enough that day to do the activity.

What does “be realistic” mean?

  • Know what your loved one can tolerate in terms of travel time, number of people involved, amount of loud noise and stimulation, etc.
  • Know what you can tolerate in terms of what embarrasses you, how much time you can spend together, etc.
  • Be willing to cancel if your loved one is not doing well.
  • Go where people would be more accepting of your loved one’s behavior (a family-style restaurant vs. a more formal restaurant, the zoo rather than an art museum if your loved one is loud)
  • Don’t expect perfect behavior.

When you are having a get-together in your house with family and/or close friends:

  • Again, be realistic.
  • Assign your loved one a specific task to do, if possible.
  • Tell others in advance what your loved one’s needs are, if you feel comfortable.
  • Allow your loved one to leave or take breaks as needed.

Do you have any other advice for balancing family needs? I’d love to hear it!

mother balancing child on her legs
by karentwinem

Balancing Family Needs

The information below comes from the World Federation for Mental Health and the University of Illinois Counseling Center.

Having a family member with a mental illness impacts the entire family. Feeling helpless? You can make things better when you take positive steps to balance your family’s needs. This makes life better for everyone involved.

You’ll find that you are not in an unusual situation. In fact, any kind of chronic or serious illness, particularly when it strikes a child, impacts an entire family. How? For example, many parents feel more protective of the child who is ill. They may spend more time with that child than they do with their other children. This can make the other children feel left out and less important.

Not only that, the limitations of the ill person and the demands of their care changes the home’s daily routines. Family members find themselves sharing caregiving … or resenting those who don’t help. Fights over what to do next are common.

Family members often experience very strong emotions, including guilt, anger, fear, sadness, anxiety and depression. This, unfortunately, is a normal reaction to stress. So families have to work together to build a sense of “normal” life. This is good for everyone, including the ill person.

Challenges Increase With Mental Illness

It’s no surprise that the challenges increase when a family member has a mental illness. The additional stresses of instability and unpredictability add to the strain.

Family roles can become confused, especially if children find themselves taking on the responsibility of caring for their parents or siblings. Children in this situation often do not get the nurturing that they need.

The stigma of mental illness always makes things worse. Family members may feel too ashamed to talk about their situation. They may withdraw from relatives and friends, feeling ever more isolated and alone.

What Can Go Wrong

Without positive intervention, “well” family members can develop all kinds of difficulties:

Relationship problems

  • Trouble initiating relationships
  • Difficulty in romantic relationships
  • Issues with maintaining friendships
  • Difficulty with trusting self and others
  • Difficulty with balancing the level of intimacy, such as being either excessively dependent or excessively avoidant
  • Inability to balance taking care of self and taking care of others

Emotional issues

  • Guilt and resentment
  • Shame or embarrassment
  • Depression
  • Fear of inheriting a family member’s mental illness
  • Fear of discovery by one’s partner and friends
  • Angry outbursts or repressed anger
  • Inability to deal with life unless it is chaotic or in crisis
  • Becoming overly responsible or irresponsible in many areas of life such as commitments, money, alcohol, relationships, etc.
  • Self defeating thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors such as “My needs don’t matter. I’m not worth much. It’s no use trying.”
  • A tendency to equate achievement with worth as a person, such as: ”Maybe I can matter if I can excel at something, be perfect in school, my job, my relationships. But if I fail, I’m worthless and terrible.”

You can see why taking proactive steps to balance the needs in your family is so important. Next time, we will talk about some practical ways to do that.