Mental Health Family Support Program at We Level Up FL

Family Program Importance in Mental Health Treatment

Research indicates that both mental health and co-occurring secondary substance abuse treatment that includes family support works better than treatment programs that do not. For the reasons that, family support increases engagement and retention in treatment, reduces the individual’s negative behavioral issues, and co-occuring drug and alcohol use. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, family support and related treatment improves both family and social functioning and discourage relapse [1].

The family has a central role to play in the treatment of any health problem, including mental health and co-occuring substance abuse problems. Each family is different, and the best way to approach family involvement with addiction therapy will differ with every person. A mental health patient who may also be an addict in recovery is putting in the effort to confront all aspects of their addiction. Family members need to learn the proper ways to lend support.

Addiction can be a major co-occurring force in people with mental health problems. Yet, people with mental health and underlying secondary co-occurring substance abuse problems require treatment for family systems too. Therefore, in integrated mental health and secondary co-occuring substance abuse treatment model based on family therapy can be instrumental in maintaining recovery. Both family functioning and individual functioning play important roles in the recovery change process. This is according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information [2].

What is a Family when it Comes to Mental Health Treatment?

There is no single definition of a family. The idea of family means an ongoing involvement on an emotional level. Family members may disperse around the world but still be connected emotionally and contribute to the dynamics of family functioning. While it may change according to circumstances, there is always a common denominator:

Traditional Families: It includes heterosexual couples (two parents and minor children all living under the same roof), single parents, and families including blood relatives, adoptive families, foster relationships, grandparents raising grandchildren, and stepfamilies.

Extended Families: Families that include grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and other relatives.

Elected Families: Families that are self‐identified and are joined by choice and not by the usual ties of blood, marriage, and law. For many people, the elected family is more important than the biological family. Examples include:

• Emancipated youth who choose to live among peers
• Godparents and other non‐biologically related people who have an emotional tie (examples are: invented relatives)
• Gay and lesbian couples or groups (and minor children all living under the same roof)

Family program in mental health treatment aims to prepare families for the common stumbling blocks connected with early recovery, and the tools to respond to the natural struggles that occur in sobriety.

Benefits of Family Program in Recovery

Family support is crucial for recovery. Family involvement has several benefits when it comes to recovering from addiction. The benefits of family support in recovery may include:

• Communication will be more effective.
• This will increase your loved one’s self-esteem.
• It will provide your loved one with healthy motivation.
• It will help resolve anger, stress, fear, or confusion caused by addiction.
• This will educate every participant on how addiction affects family members.
• Giving the family members the tools to recognize and avoid codependent or enabling behaviors.
• Enabling the family members and those in recovery with the emotional tools needed to navigate sobriety.