Mental health should be treated with as much care and seriousness as any other type of physical ailment and condition. And today, the world is finally beginning to see the importance of balancing both one’s physical and mental state.
An intervention isn’t limited to alcohol and opioid-dependents. Another misconception that has caused many to disbelieve that staging a mental health intervention is a part of the process. Below are a few facts you should know about doing so.
Steps For A Mental Health Intervention
1. Seeking Help
Acknowledging that there’s a problem is, by default, the first step. But to back it up, getting help is the next one. Get in touch with professional mental health specialists or therapy treatment centers. You can also reach out to NGOs (Non-Government Units) who conduct social work that’s focused on mental health and treatment.
Doing so will bring someone the patient can be accountable to, and someone who will act accountable towards said patient in the context of this intervention. It’s vital that he or she goes through this not on his or her own, but with someone guiding him or her through it.
2. The Intervention Team
Aside from having a mental health specialist on your side, an intervention team should be in the offing. This doesn’t have to involve the mental health profession. Instead, this should be composed of close family members and friends who can be trusted with knowledge regarding the situation. And have only the best interest in mind for the patient.
Secondly, the person struggling with mental health issues shouldn’t be included in this team.
3. Informing The Team
Aside from having the team pledge their commitment in assisting the person in need of an intervention, it will be wise to have them be aware of the extent of the mental health issue and what type of disorder their loved one is struggling with.
Whether it be chronic anxiety and depression, an eating or sleeping disorder, a personality disorder, attention deficit disorder and the like, the team has to be knowledgeable about the challenge at hand in order for them to have a better grasp of how to aid with the intervention, as guided by the therapist.
4. Rehearsing For D-Day
Schedule a day for the intervention itself. It’s a big deal and everybody will be nervous about fulfilling their roles as best as they can. Thus, to ensure that everything will happen as close to your intervention plan as possible, rehearse it.
Many believe that this step is unnecessary but professionals say only otherwise. A rehearsal is recommended as emotions will definitely be on a high on the day itself. It’s because of such uncontrolled variables that things can get out of hand.
Therefore, rehearse what each team member is supposed to do and not do. Practices specific responses as advised by the specialist. There are proper responses that are deemed less threatening to the person for whom the intervention is for. Seeking the help of the professional should be done outside of team meetings as he or she should not be a part of the team itself.
5. The Follow Through
Once everybody has spoken to your loved one, be sure that everyone will be following through with their commitment to be there as a support group for him or for her. And he or she should be told this on the intervention date, too.
Then, recommend that he or she sign up for regular check-ups to the therapist. Your loved one must be assured that they have everybody’s support and, as mentioned in a few paragraphs earlier, that they aren’t in this on their own. Constantly remind him or her of this truth.
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