Reference no: EM133306698

Case: The impact on a family who has a child diagnosed with a mental disorder like bipolar or schizophrenia can be significant. Some of the main issues for the parents and other family members that can persist throughout time include that caretaking for the mentally ill child can become the primary focus of the parents, that often parents can have different perceptions about the problems of the ill child and how to resolve them, and members can experience feelings of helplessness, frustration, guilt, shame, and compassion fatigue (Pine Rest, 2022). The family may have emotional reactions to the behaviors of the mentally ill child, such as not knowing what to say or how to react. One of the biggest struggles family members can face is feeling shame or embarrassment around these behaviors, which can lead to them shunning the ill individual (Clearview Treatment Program, 2022). It is not uncommon for a child or teenage siblings to experience bullying or rejection from peers due to the behaviors of a mentally ill sibling. Siblings can also feel like they have a hard time getting attention from their parents because they are hyper-focused on the mentally ill child. Additional negative factors for siblings include the pressure from a change in role (such as taking on a more supportive role), feeling like they are a burden on their family, and the loss of support from their sibling (Griffiths and Sin, 2013).

There are many valuable intervention techniques and coping mechanisms that can serve a family dealing with a mental illness diagnosis. One essential step is for the family members to educate themselves about the illness that has been diagnosed because understanding the illness will help the family understand the needs and limitations of their loved one. This not only allows the family to gain knowledge about solutions to problems that can occur related to the illness but can allow them to let go of the stigma around mental illness in general (Pine Rest, 2022). Families who grieve the loss of normalcy in their life can benefit from joining support groups and connecting with other people in the community who have similar situations. This can be a great source of emotional support and an opportunity to learn from others how they care for their mentally ill loved ones. Self-care of each family is important too (i.e., mindfulness, exercise, good sleep, and nutrition). Families can participate in the therapeutic sessions recommended for the mentally ill child, learning new ways to support each other and gain empathy towards the child (Pine Rest, 2022). Siblings should be encouraged to participate in both indirect and direct treatment if appropriate, as it creates an opportunity for them to grow more compassionate and tolerant towards people with mental illness. They can also utilize coping skills learned in caring for their ill sibling in their own life (Griffiths and Sin, 2013).

Mental illness is a disease, not a personal or family failure. The more a family can learn about the mental disorder, while still finding time to care for themselves and other members of the family, the more they will be able to offer support and care for their loved ones suffering from a mental illness.

Question 1: What points do you find compelling?

Question 2: What further questions does the post raise for you?