Mental Health Advocacy Within Families: How To Support Your Loved Ones

Mental health advocacy can be an important way to support a loved one while increasing awareness of mental health challenges and pushing for change. By being a mental health advocate, you may not only offer support to anyone in your family with mental illness but also influence legislation, policy, and services and do your part to stop the stigma around mental health. However, it can often be challenging to act as an advocate. Working with a licensed therapist may offer support and guidance.

How to be a mental health advocate in your family

People with mental illness may experience a sense of overwhelm or powerlessness in many areas of their lives. Actions taken by family members may empower them and bring about necessary social and political changes. Here are some things you can do to advocate for a family member with mental illness. 

Help them get the care they deserve

Sometimes, mental health advocacy within families may begin with encouraging your family members to get the professional support they deserve.

This can start with recognizing the warning signs that someone might be experiencing a mental health challenge. Symptoms can vary greatly depending on the mental health condition, but some signs for which to watch may include changes in appetite or sleep patterns, withdrawal from social interactions, and problems at work or school. There may be other reasons for these changes, but an evaluation can help medical professionals identify any problems and ensure that mental health symptoms are treated.

Having a conversation about someone’s mental health can be challenging, but talking about it can be the first step toward getting them help. Start by expressing your concerns. Remind them that you care about them and are there to help them. Be patient and caring, and avoid being judgmental. Allow them to express themselves and listen to what they have to say. Remind them that getting help can be a sign of strength, and help them connect with a mental health professional.

Address barriers to care

Try to anticipate any barriers to a relative's mental healthcare and address them if possible. For example, you can look for support groups or other community mental health resources. You could also contact local providers to learn about their office hours and what types of insurance they accept. Help your loved one brainstorm solutions to any possible issues that might arise. For example, you can help them find transportation to and from appointments or ask other family members if they are willing to help with childcare.

According to a 2021 study, “Consumers with a mental health condition often feel powerless and overwhelmed in interactions with mental healthcare providers. Consumer self-advocacy and advocacy actions undertaken by their family members on the behalf of their relative contribute to a sense of empowerment for both consumers and their family members.” Offer to go to appointments with your loved one or talk to their mental healthcare provider to ensure they get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate support.

Stay with them through the healing process

Recovery from a mental health challenge can take time and may not be straightforward. There may be ups and downs, progress, and setbacks. Continue to support your loved one throughout their treatment, offering your support whenever possible. 

Educate yourself about mental illness

Mental illness is often misunderstood. By educating yourself, you can learn not only about the challenges those with mental illnesses face but also about underserved communities and barriers to care. You might also familiarize yourself with the health systems framework assessment for your area. Understanding the systemic problems affecting mental healthcare can help you better determine where to concentrate your efforts. When you determine where change needs to happen, you can work to make that change a reality. 

Break the stigma

There are many things you can do to help break the stigma around mental health, whether in society at large or within your own family. To start, talk openly about your own mental health, acknowledge when you’re having problems, and ask for support when you need it. 

You can also educate yourself and others about mental illness. For example, if your family member has been diagnosed with a specific condition, educate yourself about it and offer to talk to other family members about what you’ve learned. Doing so may influence family members’ perspectives and encourage them to offer support.

It can be helpful to understand that language matters and speak to family members who are using terms that may be offensive. For example, if your loved one is diagnosed with schizophrenia, and someone refers to them as a “schizophrenic,” you could kindly express that using the term in that way is considered offensive and encourage them to say that your loved one is a “person with schizophrenia” instead.

Volunteer and get involved

Volunteering your time can help you advocate for mental health awareness while actively helping others. Look for opportunities where you can make a difference in community mental health organizations. There are a variety of ways you can help, including visiting residents at nursing homes, organizing donations at a food bank, volunteering at a crisis line, getting involved in community health nursing advocacy, or working with a local Mental Health America affiliate.

Speak up

An article published in Health Promotion International states, “Consumer and family organizations and related NGOs have been able to influence governments on mental health policies and laws and educating the public on social integration of people with mental disorders.” Speaking out, campaigning, and using your vote can be crucial to influencing greater change.

Mental health advocacy can be both rewarding and challenging

Talk to an online therapist for support

Caring for your own mental health

There can be many benefits to being a mental health advocate, including the family member advocacy actions covered above, but being an advocate may also involve stress, anxiety, and frustration. Putting your efforts into eliminating the stigma that can be associated with mental illness may be challenging because you may not always get the intended results, and you may not be able to help everyone who needs it.

If you are overwhelmed by your responsibilities or are undertaking advocacy in addition to being a caregiver for someone with a mental illness, remember to prioritize your own mental health. Consider reaching out to a more experienced advocate to understand how they cope when they face these challenges, or join a support group for friends and family members of people with mental illness to learn other ways to help your loved one.

Talking to a therapist can also help you manage these feelings. If you’re too busy to travel to weekly appointments, consider online treatment with a platform like BetterHelp. With BetterHelp, you can work with a qualified therapist from the comfort of your home at a time that fits your schedule. More than 30,000 mental healthcare providers are on the platform, and you can switch therapists at any time until you find the right fit. 

In addition to being flexible and convenient, research shows that online treatment can be effective. A 2022 study noted that online and in-person therapy typically produce the same results.