A mental disorder can happen to anyone in a family. In addition to the emotional and physical distress that mental illness inflicts on an individual and
his/ her family, finances also become strained. There a number of ways that people can assist their family members who are suffering from mental illness
to ease their lives as well as aid them in getting medical treatment. Some help can be in the form of physical support while others can be financial.
Help with the Purchasing of their Medication
Most, although not all, mental disorders can be adequately treated with medication if and when diagnosed early. For starters, a family member could assist
the ill person seek/ access proper diagnosis and treatment from psychiatrists; perhaps through referral by his/ her doctor or physician. A family member,
whether parent, guardian, sibling or child, can assist with meeting some of these costs including drugs purchases, traveling and therapy among others. This
relieves the patient off some of the financial burden that faces him/ her in meeting treatment costs.
Help Take Care of Their Dependents
A mental illness, most often, renders a person unable to take care of himself and or his dependents. A mentally ill parent, for instance, may not be in an
emotional state to take care of his/ her children and it would help if a family member were to take up some responsibility and oversee to it that the
children eat, have a bath, go to school and continue with their normal lives; as much as possible. Additionally, since the person may no longer be working,
a family member could contribute towards the expenses of this ill person’s dependents such as food, water, power and education bills.
Help with Therapy
Sometimes, hospitalization of the ill person may be needed or constant visits to psychiatrists. A family member can offer to provide finances to cater for
the hospital bill, costs of regular visits to the psychiatrists and or invite friends and or counselors, to visit the person suffering mental disorder. The
financial assistance is as valuable as social support as it takes off the burden of meeting the bills; giving the patient some peace.
Comfort and Support
Patients who suffer from manic depression and schizophrenia among other mental disorders may not be down all the time. Their moods and feeling of self
worth could be improved by good company and acts of kindness. Family members may arrange for small get togethers, where they shower the
ill person with lots of love. Alternatively, the person could be taken out to some nice places, salon, the beach, etc which calm them and
make them feel loved. Although the mental condition may not be itself treated with these acts of kindness, they may calm the person; preventing
deterioration of his/ her condition.
Care for Them
One of the biggest problems in mental disorders is patients who stop taking their medications. They feel fine so they stop but then they get worse and end up unable to function. When a mentally ill person cannot be entrusted with his/ her own safety, external help in keeping him/ her safe is paramount. Family member(s)
can offer to look after the ill people or employ caretakers to oversee to their welfare including feeding, dressing, hygiene, drug administration and
ensuring they do not harm themselves. If and when the sick person poses a danger to others, then he/ she should be hospitalized/ institutionalized.
Saving Finances
Mental disorders impact people’s finances, as ill people may need drug and therapy treatment, not to mention being taken care or having their dependents
looked after by someone else. Family members can save on finances if they centralize needs. For instance, they could take in dependents of the sick person
or have the patient hospitalized if having someone takes care if the patients, at home, would prove more costly. Mental disorders impact heavily on
patients and their relatives; appropriate assistance goes a long way in helping all of them cope.
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- Costs Associated With Home Health Care
- Stop the Madness: How to Finance an Intervention
- How Much Does It Really Cost to Raise a Child?
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