A Family Affair

1. A Family Affair What can I do to help my family member! Angie Jackson CFP, NCPSP, MBA Via Hope, Family Coordinator

2. Strong family members build strong families. Strong families build strong communities. Strong communities build strong States! We can not complain about the situations our state is in if we are not starting with ourselves. I’m sure you have heard charity begins at home and spreads abroad! It truly takes a village to raise a child! Remember that child will grow up to become a citizen and we as adults have the power to help shape if they child grows to be a productive citizen or another statistic.

3. Mental Health Diagnosis

4. Yes Every body is included! • Every person has physical health and mental health • Many people have a hard time understanding mental health issues! • Some individuals do not experience any physical health concerns • Some individuals experience physical health concerns such as heart disease, asthma or sickle cell • Some individuals do not experience any mental health concerns • Some individuals experience mental health concerns such as Bipolar disorder, PTSD, ADHD or schizoaffective e disorder.

5. physical health vs. mental healththey both deserve attention • Needs evaluating • Needs treatment • Possibly needs medication • Needs therapy (CBT or other) • Needs assessing • Needs treatment • Possibly needs medication • Needs therapy (physical or occupational)

6. Adult family members/ the affects on families • Seeking help – make sure the adult family member has given consent for you to be kept informed. • Accessing your loved ones status – in some cases legal guardianship or power of attorney is necessary. • Utilizing MCOT (Mobile Crisis Outreach Team) – when symptoms are manifesting and danger to ones self or others are present • Lets talk about how this affects families!

7. A minor family member and the affects on families • You must be the legal guardian of a child to seek mental health services. • What to do if the legal guardian is not present. • Making sure the child is receiving the best care possible. • Including the child in decision making .

8. What can I do to help • One of the major items as families members we can help with is Stigmatism

9. What can I do to help Do’s Do not Place blame and shame on your loved one Discourage your loved one from seeking treatment Make your loved one feel alone in their journey Assume they can control certain behaviors Put all individuals in the same category because they have the same diagnosis. • Be supportive • Educate yourself about your loved ones illness • Participate in treatment with your love one • Encourage your loved one to practice healthy activities to reduce symptoms • Learn all you can and help others learn information

10. Help your family member find their voice. Advocate with and for your family member. Support your family member in positive decision making. Join local chapters of organizations that advocate for, do research around, provide treatment, intervention and education for mental illness. These things will show your family member that you care about their health and well being. Just as if your family member was dealing with a physical element such as cancer you would show your support and that patients outlook and outcome are positively impacted, it works the same with a family member dealing with a mental illness.

11. Angie Jackson MBA, CFP, NCPSP Via Hope, Family Coordinator ABOVE ALL FAMILY MEMBER ajackson@namitexas.org 512-787-6553