8 Ways Through Which Family Members Can Support Each Other’s Mental Health

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Through the course of our lives, not everything goes according to plan. We all have to face some problems, and battling through them makes us more mature, confident, and mentally stronger. However, getting through these rough patches isn't easy, especially if you go at it alone.

Humans are social beings, and when things go south, we need to have support from our families and the people we love to cope with these problems.

We should take responsibility and make sure that we are there for our friends and family members when facing a tough time. We should try to be supportive and help them take care of their mental health.

However, helping someone who is having a mental breakdown or a panic attack can be quite difficult. Similarly, it can be challenging to help family members with major depressive disorder or PTSD, and you might feel like you will say something wrong and make things worse.

Therefore, here are eight ways in which family members can be more supportive of each other's mental health.

Families should try to spend more time together:

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Ideally, we should be very close to our families, and they should be the easiest people to talk to; however, unfortunately, that is not the case for many people. Even the families on good terms are so caught up in their routines and troubles that they can't talk to their parents or siblings.

However, if we are going to be more supportive of each other as a family, we need to change this. Parents should make an effort to talk to their children, adults should call their parents every day, and we should talk to our siblings as well, especially those we don't meet that often.

Moreover, you should aim to spend more time together, and at least once or twice a month, you should all get together and have a nice family meal. Moreover, whenever you are feeling down or facing problems, call your family and talk to them; this will make them more comfortable sharing their problems with you and strengthening your overall bond.

Learn how to notice mental issues:

Most people find it very difficult to talk about their mental problems. Moreover, unlike most physical problems, the effects of deteriorating mental health aren't as visible and obvious. Hence, it can be very difficult to identify when a family member is facing psychological problems.

Therefore, we should try to be more considerate and learn about some common symptoms of deteriorating mental health. Though different mental illnesses have different symptoms, here are some signs you should look for to determine if a family member needs emotional and mental support

Changes in regular behavior

Loss of interest in otherwise enjoyed activities

Avoidance

Emotional outbreaks like anger and frustration

Instead of identifying the exact problems your family member might face, it is more important to be supportive and empathetic.

Learn how to talk about mental health problems:

When you talk to someone about their mental health, it can be quite a challenging discussion. It is important that you are supportive and don't say something that makes matters worse. Therefore, here are some tips that you should remember when you are trying to talk to a family member about their mental wellbeing.

Make them feel comfortable

Allows them to share at their own pace and don't be too assertive

Make sure there aren't any distractions

Don't minimize or second guess their emotions.

Listen to them with empathy and sincerity

Know your limits

Motivate them to seek professional help if they are ready for it

Build trust among family members:

Mutual trust is perhaps the most important thing when it comes to being emotionally supportive. Therefore, it is essential to build trust. Our mental state can be a sensitive topic, and sometimes people find it very difficult to talk about their issues or seek treatment because they fear that their family will judge them or treat them like a charity case.

Therefore, to build trust, you need to take the first step. You should open up about your mental problems with your family and ask for their support. This will help others trust you as well.

Have a joint together:

Sometimes, talking about your problems doesn't do much, and you need some way to find relief. For Instance, when you get home from a long and stressful day at work, talking to a family member might not be enough on its own.

Therefore, you should try smoking cannabis together. Weed is a fantastic natural drug, and it has a lot of medical benefits as well. It can counter stress, help you sleep better, and even help people with depression. Moreover, cannabis is legal in Canada, and you should check out Ganja express to find some incredible cannabis strains.

So, if you are an adult and you want to build a better bond with your siblings, how about sharing a joint and talking a little? It will help you relieve anxiety and talk to each other more freely.

Go on a nice family vacation:

These days, most of us have to deal with unhealthy levels of stress. Whether you are in school, have a job, or do anything else, stress has become a constant part of our lives, and it can be very detrimental for our physical and psychological health.

Therefore, we must take a break and go on a nice vacation with our family. Preferably, you should go on a road trip, which gives you a lot of time to talk to each other and strengthen your bond. If you feel like one of your kids is having a tough time, you could plan a fun parent-child trip for the two of you, or you could plan a similar vacation with one of your siblings as well.

Not only will a road trip get you away from your stressful routine, but it will also strengthen your relationship with your traveling buddies.

Parents should spend more time with young kids:

Keep in mind that your kids are also dealing with several mental issues, and if you are going to be supportive, you need to try and spend a healthy amount of time with your children.

Sometimes, parents can be overly strict, and children have a tough time talking to them. Moreover, in some cases, parents are just so busy that their children feel distant from them.

Therefore, make a habit of talking to your kids every day and asking them about their day. Moreover, don't shield your kids from your problems, trust them with your issues, and be open with them, and they will respond by doing the same.

Be more involved in each other lives:

Everyone is involved in their problems these days. We are caught up in our hectic routines, and most of us don't even know what's happening in our family members' lives. I'm afraid that's not right, and it's the way a supportive family should behave.

If you want to be supportive of your family members, you should make an effort to be more involved in each other's lives. You should keep up with your siblings, and talk to them about their day. Similarly, you must show interest in the activities your kids enjoy and be supportive.