Mental Health Resources for Families, Friends and Other Allies in Recovery
With the right treatment and support, people affected by mental illness can and do get better. Although new forms of therapy, medications, and community-based treatment services have enabled many individuals to lead full, independent lives, support from friends, family members, partners, sponsors, neighbors, CIT officers, clergy, educators, and other allies are essential to the recovery process. When knowledgeable and appropriately supported loved ones are involved in treatment and recovery, outcomes for all involved are improved, including reduced relapse and rehospitalization rates. (Cuipers, 1999; Dixon & Lehman, 1995; Dyck et al.,2000; Falloon et al. 1985; Jewell, McFarlane, Dixon & Miklowitz, 2005; McFarlane et al., 1995; Penn & Mueser, 1996)
The Coordinating Centers of Excellence are pleased to provide these resources for constituents to share with families, friends, and other allies in the recovery process.
COORDINATING CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE at NEOMED
Communicating with the Treatment Team
Tips for Family and Natural Supports of Individuals Affected by Schizophrenia
Current Health Information and Medications List
NEOMED Clozapine Assistance Service
Ohio Crisis Intervention Teams for Mental Health Crises
Schizophrenia The Myths, the Realities and How to Help
COURAGE TO CAREGIVERS
Courage to Caregivers is an Ohio-based nonprofit organization with a mission to provide hope, support, and courage to caregivers and loved ones of those living with mental illness that supports caregivers by providing one-to-one caregiver peer support, breathing meditation classes, support groups, and educational resources, including:
- Information sheets with a wealth of resources and referral sources for a variety of mental health diagnoses
- Caregiver skills: Acceptance and Letting Go, Active Listening, Boundaries, and Suicidal Ideation
CRISIS SERVICES
National Helpline
1-800-662-HELP (4357)
The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has established a free, confidential information service (in English or Spanish), open 24 hours/365 days, for individuals and family members facing mental health or substance use disorders. SAMHSA also provides an online Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
988 – 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources
https://988lifeline.org/ Connect with counselors for emotional support and other services via web chat, speak to someone in Spanish, or access information for the deaf or hard of hearing.
Ohio CareLine
1-800-720-9616, 24/7 for free, confidential support
Text Lines
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741
The Crisis Text Line is available to offer 24/7 support for any crisis.
HOPELINE
Text HOPELINE to 741741
HOPELINE™, offered by the Center for Suicide Awareness. A free emotional support service providing hope, help, and support (via text) before situations rise to crisis level.
MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA
Mental Health America affiliates bring together mental health consumers, parents, advocates and service providers for collaboration and action to inform, support and enable mental wellness, and emphasize recovery from mental illness. Affiliates provide public education, information and referral, support groups, and other services to those confronting mental health problems and their loved ones. Find a Mental Health America affiliate in your community.
Mental Illness in the Family Series:
NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR CAREGIVING
Circle of Care: A Guidebook for Mental Health Caregivers (available in English and in Spanish) were developed based on a study conducted by the National Alliance for Caregiving with the assistance of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health America in 2015.
Caregiver Health Self-Assessment Questionnaire helps caregivers review their situations, consider options and make decisions that will assist them with taking care of themselves within the context of caregiving responsibilities.
NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS (NAMI)
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots organization for people with mental illness and their families. Find a NAMI affiliate in your community.
Connect with a NAMI Family Support Group near you.
NAMI Family-to-Family is a free, 8-session, evidence-based educational program for family, significant others and friends of people with mental health conditions. Research shows that the program significantly improves the coping and problem-solving abilities of the people closest to a person with a mental health condition. NAMI Family-to-Family is taught by NAMI-trained family members with lived experience and includes presentations, discussions and interactive exercises.
NAMI provides a number of resources for family members and caregivers including how to support recovery, take care of yourself, prepare for a crisis, and more. Visit NAMI’s Your Journey: Family Members and Caregivers.
Ohio Department of Behavioral Health
Learn about Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis
RELINK.ORG
Relink.org is a robust, searchable database that connects people in need to local resources that can help across a full continuum of care.
SUICIDE PREVENTION
The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health provides information and guidance on suicide prevention, intervention, treatment, and postvention support services.
The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation is dedicated to saving lives by connecting every Ohioan to hope, help, and suicide prevention resources.
The Suicide Prevention Resource Center provides consultation, training, and resources to enhance suicide prevention efforts in states, Native settings, colleges and universities, health systems and other settings, and organizations that serve populations at risk for suicide.