helping a relative

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What Can the Family Do?

Accept your loved one as having a real illness and tolerate his or her symptoms to the extent that safety and family well-being permit. Be kind and patient.

Maintain a record (diary) of your loved one’s symptoms. Meanwhile, help your loved one find and accept appropriate medication and other treatment.

Attend your local NAMI self-help group. Use the educational materials there to learn about your loved one’s illness. Use the emotional support of the people you meet there—who are also living with mental illness in their family—to help you cope.

Warning Signs of Mental Illness

These symptoms listed below may indicate the presence of a major mental illness. If several of these warning signs are present and persist for several weeks or longer, a qualified medical opinion should be sought. It is unwise to try to diagnose one's self or others.

Symptoms:

	Marked personality change
	Withdrawal from society, isolation
	Confused or delusional thinking
	Strange or grandiose ideas
	Prolonged or severe depression, apathy or mood swings
	Excessive anxiety, worries or fears.
	Substantial rapid weight gain or loss
	Too much or too little sleep
	Difficulty coping with daily activities
	Inappropriate emotions
	Denial of obvious problems
	Increased use of alcohol or drugs
	Inappropriate anger or hostility
	Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things not there)

IF YOU PERCEIVE VIOLENT OR SUICIDAL THOUGHTS OR ACTIONS, SEEK HELP IMMEDIATELY!

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