Loving Someone with A Mental Illness | Facebook Live

In The Family Institute's May livestream, also in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, we discussed how to love someone with a mental illness and support them without overstepping boundaries or sacrificing your own mental well-being.

Dr. Cheryl Rampage, senior academic & clinical advisor and clinical associate professor, in conversation with Neil Venketramen, marriage and family therapist, addressed the most common misconceptions about mental illness and provided strategies for taking care of yourself and your loved ones' mental health.

Some of the questions include but are not limited to:

• If mental illness is so common – 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. is diagnosed with it in a given year – why is it still stigmatized?
• What are some of the most common misconceptions of mental illness? What can we do to help break the stigma?
• When someone you love – a family member, a partner, a close friend – experiences a mental health condition, how does it affect or change them?
• How can you love and support them without coming off as intrusive? How can you help them explore treatment options?
• How can you prevent their conditions from taking a toll on your relationship or your own mental well-being? How can you set boundaries and avoid burnout?
• What’s important to remember when you feel frustrated or angry? Is there a point where you should consider giving up?