Substance abuse, addiction, and mental health problems including bipolar, depression and anxiety, not only affect the individual suffering, but they can also impact upon the whole family. The effects can be far-reaching, influencing finances, relationships, health, and family dynamics.
Involving the entire family in the treatment process helps the family heal alongside the individual in recovery, mending damaged relationships, rebuilding trust, and dealing with the consequences of past behaviours.
Why is family support so important in mental health and addiction treatment?
Family involvement can play a pivotal role in the treatment of mental health, addiction, and substance use disorders. It can enhance engagement, improve outcomes, reduce the risk of relapse, and support overall long-term recovery.
When families are involved, individuals are more likely to stay engaged in their treatment. Knowing that loved ones are invested in their recovery can reduce feelings of isolation and increase commitment to treatment plans.
Family members can provide consistent emotional support, which is vital for recovery. Their encouragement can help the individual stay motivated and resilient during challenging times. They also frequently provide practical assistance, helping with everyday responsibilities – enabling the individual to attend support sessions and staying on top of any necessary medications.
Family support has been shown to decrease the likelihood of relapse in both mental health, addiction, and substance use disorders. The accountability and encouragement provided by those around them, can help individuals avoid triggers and cope with stressors.
Family involvement ensures that the support system extends beyond formal treatment. Families can help reinforce the strategies and skills learned during treatment, providing a continuous safety net.
What is family therapy?
Family therapy is a specialised form of psychotherapy that addresses the complex dynamics within a family system. It recognises that mental health, addiction, and substance use disorders do not just affect the individual but also impact their loved ones. By involving family members in the therapeutic process, it aims to foster better understanding, improve communication, and repair and strengthen relationships.
Family members can learn about the nature of the disorder, the triggers, and the coping strategies. This knowledge helps them to respond more effectively and empathetically to their loved one’s needs. They can learn to recognise early warning signs of relapse or worsening mental health. Early intervention can prevent a full-blown relapse or crisis.
Family therapy can address family dynamics, identifying and resolving dysfunctional patterns. It can improve communication skills among members, fostering healthier relationships and reducing conflict. Involvement in treatment helps restore broken relationships, rebuild trust and strengthen bonds, which are essential for long-term recovery.
What about support for the families?
Families play a crucial role in the recovery journey of individuals dealing with mental health, addiction, and substance use disorders. However, the stress, worry, physical and emotional toll on those family members can be significant.
When a loved one is struggling with a mental health disorder or addiction, the emphasis of the whole family can become all about the one suffering with the illness, which can be overwhelming and challenging for the entire unit, it is vital that other members also receive support.
Providing support to families ensures they have the tools and knowledge to:
Cope with stress and anxiety: Dealing with a loved one’s disorder can be emotionally draining. Support services help families manage their own mental health, reducing feelings of helplessness and burnout.
Understand the disorder: Education is key to helping families understand the complexities of mental health and addiction. Knowing what their loved one is going through allows families to respond with empathy and provide appropriate support.
Foster a supportive environment: A well-supported family is better equipped to create a stable, nurturing environment that can significantly impact their loved one’s recovery journey.
Improve communication and relationships: Support services often include training in communication skills, helping families navigate difficult conversations and resolve conflicts that may arise during the recovery process.
In addition to family therapy with a licensed therapist, there are a variety of fellowship, peer and support groups, available for family members. Here is a small selection:
- Al‑Anon is a mutual peer-support programme for people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking. (al-anonuk.org.uk)
- Families Anonymous is a worldwide 12-step fellowship group for the family and friends affected by another’s abuse of mind-altering substances, or related behavioural problems. (famanon.org.uk)
- Action for Carers (Surrey) has several different support groups for those caring for an individual with a mental health condition. (actionforcarers.org.uk)
- Mind is a registered charity in England which offers lots of information, advice and local services and support for those individuals and family members struggling with a mental health condition. (mind.org.uk)
Family support at Ibiza Calm.
At Ibiza Calm we recognise that the families of our clients also need support. All our treatment programmes include a family support group, which any family member can attend, from the moment their loved one enters the treatment clinic. This is a weekly online zoom group, accessible from anywhere in the world, and facilitated by one of our highly qualified, experienced and accredited therapeutic team.
Mental health and addiction treatment in Spain.
Here at our luxury residential mental health and addiction rehab centre in Ibiza we treat clients with a variety of mental health conditions, including addiction, alcoholism, bipolar, depression, and anxiety.
For information on our admissions to our Spanish rehab centre please contact sharon@ibizacalm.com