Many family caregivers struggle with getting their loved one help for an addiction or mental illness. Some have difficulty finding local services. Others experience stigma that stops them from seeking help. This collection of articles is intended to help you tackle these problems, and overcome other barriers that caregivers commonly encounter in Ontario’s health system.
When your loved one is a child, youth or young adult, the role of the family caregiver will naturally be pretty hands-on. There can be an upside to this involvement because health system providers will often seek out information from these family caregivers, and provide some direction on what they can do to help the [...]
Is this a mental health crisis? A mental health crisis is a non-life threatening situation where a person is showing extreme emotional disturbance or physical distress, considering harm to self or others, disoriented or out of touch with reality, has a compromised ability to function, or is otherwise agitated and unable to be calmed (must be [...]
Is this a mental health emergency? A mental health emergency is a life threatening situation where a person is imminently threatening harm to self or others, severely disorientated or out of touch with reality, has a severe inability to function, or is otherwise distraught and out of control. Examples include: Acting on a suicidal threat, [...]
Patients struggling to manage a chronic disease(s) may be surprised to learn that there are health coaches available to help them get it under control. Even better, the service is free.
This 2006 report describes the significant effect of mental health and addiction problems on families, identifies the common needs of families in this situation, and provides a blueprint for involving family caregivers as partners in care.
Our health system relies on common definitions and acronyms to expedite documentation and information exchange. The only problem is, patients and family caregivers who are new to the addiction and mental health system don't understand the terms. These definitions will help. Definitions Concurrent disorder Dual diagnosis A condition in which a person has both a [...]
When our loved ones appear to be suffering from mental illness, are perceived to be a danger to themselves or others, fail to care for their own needs, and are unwilling to obtain help, a psychiatric assessment may be necessary in order to determine an appropriate course of care. This Ottawa Crisis Line article, How to [...]
Involuntary admission to hospital The Ontario Mental Health Act (1990) defines categories of psychiatric institutions, the legal rights of patients, and procedures for the treatment of patients who are deemed unable to consent for themselves. Family caregivers typically seek guidance from the Mental Health Act when their loved one refuses care or professional assistance. There [...]
In addition to validating the experience of family caregivers, this comprehensive guide for caregivers in the mental health system of eastern Ontario provides useful information and guidance, including how to take care of your own needs.
When you’re not heard as a caregiver, it can lead to confusion, lost time or worse. That's why you may want to be persistent in getting information across.
Mental health problems are common in children and youth. Unfortunately, it can take months for an appointment with a mental health professional. Even though this can be frustrating, there are things parents can do to get ready. If you happen to be waiting, this article may help: "What parents can do while waiting for mental health [...]
When the problem is addiction or mental health, questions about the patient’s ability to make healthcare decisions is bound to come up. This is where Ontario’s privacy and consent rules come into play. Unfortunately, the rules can be complicated and open to interpretation but it is well worth the effort to get to know the [...]
Check out this helpful list of community support services in the Champlain region of Ontario (region includes Vankleek Hill, Caledonia Springs, Blue Corners, L’orignal and Hawkesbury).
Did you know that Cornwall Community Hospital supports individuals through substance-use withdrawal? Community Withdrawal Management Services in Cornwall, Ontario, provides individualized emotional and medically-supported services through withdrawal from alcohol and drugs. This judgement-free care environment supports all methods of recovery and all paths on the road to recovery from substance abuse. Clients are able to [...]
The Indigenous view of mental wellness is broad in scope, including aspects of health that Ontario’s medical and hospital services may not address very directly. For Inuit, mental wellness is defined as self-esteem and personal dignity flowing from harmonious physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellness, and cultural identity (Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, 2014). The First Nations [...]
Hospital discharge planning advice for caregivers: Patient discharge from the hospital and the transition back to the community is a very significant step for both the patient and the family caregiver. The recovery of your loved one is enhanced by a good discharge plan. Unfortunately, hospitals often struggle with effective discharge planning, so it is [...]
It can be difficult when you are watching a loved one suffer with a mental health or substance use problem and they have no desire to get help. This article offers helpful advice on how to talk to your family member/friend.
The Changing CARE: Embrace Family Caregiver Centre is now open at Cornwall Community Hospital, providing family caregivers with daily access to information and support, between the hours of 6 AM and 8 PM. Self-service and in-person support Family caregivers who are comfortable with a self-service approach can drop by at any convenient time, while those [...]
The Ontario branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association defines harm reduction is an evidence-based, client-centred approach that seeks to reduce the health and social harms associated with addiction and substance use, without necessarily requiring people who use substances to abstain or stop. The key features of harm reduction are pragmatism, humane values that respect [...]
This information and advice is practical and will help caregivers to be effective in offering help to their loved one and getting the healthcare support they need.
The caregiver wishlist describes the changes that family caregiver would like to see in Ontario’s health system, to better meet their diverse needs.
What families need to know if they have a loved one with a mental illness. Don’t go it alone. Don’t get into fights. Learn the mental health system and how to bend the rules. Understand it is a marathon, not a sprint.
What is mental health recovery? Find the answer in this short animation from the Scottish Recovery Network.
The caregiver role in the health system: In this TED Talk, a former patient turned patient advocate, speaks to the immense and important role of caregivers in the health system.
A remarkable recovery from mental illness: When the problem is addiction or mental illness, patients need hope. Family caregivers can help by explaining what recovery looks like and offering examples of success like Dr. Patricia Deegan, a psychologist who was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager.
What to do when a loved one has anosognosia (lack of awareness), an illness that often prevents help-seeking and adherence to prescribed care.
NEXT Local Resources: Addiction & Mental Health
Improving the experience of family caregivers in the addiction and mental health system across Cornwall, Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry and Akwesasne, Ontario.
Project partners: