Of all the signs of ailing mental health, suicide is the most compelling. Its finality for the sufferer allots the living an unarguable, if unwanted, glimpse at the deceased’s despair. It is as if, in the act of taking one’s own life, there is no more definitive way of communicating the depths of mental illness.
Suicide, however, is not usually the first indication of a person’s deteriorating mental health. The loved ones of those who struggle with their mental health may have been through months or even years of difficult living with and treatment for their dear one’s mental health.
If you are close to someone with depression, bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, or other mental health difficulties, your own health – both mental and physical – can be put under great strain. Your family life can be disrupted.
One of our medics who works in the field of mental health told me that caregivers for the mentally ill often feel they cannot discuss their difficulties, emotions, and thoughts with family and friends. As a caregiver or family member, you may feel alone in your situation. Without the ability to talk honestly about your situation, and without respite from the care and the concerns you have for your mentally ill loved one, you are carrying an increasingly great burden.
While services for the people most affected by mental health problems – people who live with these problems – are obviously very important, the needs of their loved ones should not be underestimated. Mental health issues continue to be difficult to deal with for everyone involved, and they are no less hard to talk about.
If you are caring for someone with mental illness, and you could use some help, an organization in Dorval offers support and respite services specifically for the families and friends of mentally ill people. Friends for Mental Health guides families and friends towards new paths in learning to live with mental illness. The organization’s mission is to listen and to counsel, to provide information and referrals, and to offer self-help and respite for caregivers and family. Many of their services are free of charge.
I can tell you that you are not alone, based on what I have seen in my work as a medic. Other people are struggling with the same issues that your family is struggling with. If you feel like you are in it alone, call Friends for Mental Health at 514.636.6885.
When you or someone you know is suicidal, don’t hesitate to call the Crisis Centre at 514.684.6160 or to call 911.
