Let’s face it, life can be hard sometimes. Life stress, job stress, family stress – these can all have a significant impact on our mental health and how well we function in our day-to-day lives.
With May’s Mental Health Awareness month underway, it’s worth taking a moment to look at family mental health.
Consider this: on average, nearly two thirds of adults (62%) don’t even speak about the commonplace stress simply because they don’t want to burden those around them. Imagine when, at the same time, those individuals are also experiencing more time closer than ever in their home spaces, with roommates, friends, and family. Especially post-quarantine, where the future was uncertain, many of us may have felt stuck inside with our families for a little too long, and now cost of living is rising and the “new normal” rarely seems that normal.
Because honestly, we could all use a little semblance of peace and respite from all the stress, at least on the home front. The discussion around making our home spaces safe spaces for our mental health has grown. Mental Health America has shared a foundational ingredient to a comfortable and mentally healthy living situation as, “feeling like your space gives you comfort, support, and calming energy.”
That’s why having a conversation about mental health with your family or cohabitants is so important to leading a happy and productive life. To avoid stress and anxiety at home, now is a good time to start understanding the positive effects of mental healthcare for families and accessing those resources.
In 2021, it was found that 1 in 14 children have a caregiver experiencing poor mental health. As so many elements in a family home can ripple out and affect the whole, how do we think this might also affect those in home being cared for? This statistic alone begins to bring into focus how a parent or caregiver’s mental health can affect family mental health.
As the conversation is being had around mental health, and the pursuit of getting the care that each and everyone deserves, more Americans are mental healthcare treatment and care.
We’ve heard the benefits of mental healthcare, but specifically to the topic at hand, what are the positive effects of family mental healthcare?
Stronger Bonds, Less Drama
Family mental health struggles can put a strain on anyone. Accessing mental healthcare treatment can help you and your family members with managing mental health conditions, which in turn leads to healthier relationships between family members.
Family support and engagement is one of the strongest indicators of positive mental healthcare treatment effects and long-term wellbeing of patients. Because family members can provide both emotional support and practical assistance, patients with a strong family support system are more likely to be successful following treatment.
Early Intervention is Key
Did you know catching mental health issues in kids early can prevent bigger problems down the road? Plus, they’ll be better equipped to handle life’s challenges and have a better chance at leading happy and healthy lives.
One in five children have some sort of mental health disorder, but only about 20% of kids needing help receive treatment. Child and family mental health is dependent on receiving early intervention and strong family support.
Talk it Out
Therapy isn’t just about couches and tissues. It helps families communicate openly and honestly about their feelings, fostering stronger connections.
Connecting with our children can be hard as the world feels as though it is changing at a faster rate than ever before. How can we communicate with our children about the world around us, if we are having trouble keeping up with it ourselves?
Fostering real and honest communication with our children (as it pertains to their age and the associated age-appropriate approach to the ever-changing world around us) will strengthen their continued growth and resilience as they change alongside it all.
The benefits of developing communication include:
- Building trust
- Preventing and resolving problems
- Providing clarity and direction
- Creating healthier relationships
- Stimulates awareness around boundaries– setting and respecting
Developing communication skills is done at all ages. It’s a lifelong journey of engaging with the world around us, and evolving with it.
Life Skills for the Win
Mental health professionals equip families with tools to manage stress, regulate emotions, and navigate tough situations – together!
The life skills that can positively impact your family mental health overall include learning how to create safe and open spaces that stand as the homespace; identifying the communication styles needed for the kind of clarity needed in the quest for healthy family mental health; tools needed to identify and adjust habits effectively, one at a time; and the perspective that helps stimulate the ability to take time to focus on yourself, when it’s appropriate and necessary.
Be a Mental Health Hero
By prioritizing mental health care, you’re setting a fantastic example for your kids. It shows them that getting help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Positive role models are a fantastic indicator of a child’s healthy development and emotional wellbeing.
We’ve all heard how children are sponges– they watch and mimic the actions of those around them. Parting with them the healthy habits you want to see them take into the rest of their lives starts with how you carry yourself now.
Investing in your own mental health is investing in your family mental health, and, in turn the mental health of your children long into the future.
You’re Not Alone
Mental health services can connect your family with support networks and resources in your community. This feeling of belonging can be a huge help when things get tough.
Remember, you are not expected to know everything right now. How can you know what to do if you haven’t yet discovered the kind of guide and resources that show you the very support needed around you? Support is always here, and is always available.
The bottom line? Taking care of your family mental health is an investment in your happiness, well-being, and overall strength (and that of the family as a whole!).