Q&A with Anna M. Scheyett, PhD, MSW, LCSW
What can a family do when they believe an adult child is mentally ill?
When an adult child has a mental illness, it can be a very frightening and painful time. Know that ignoring your concerns won’t make them go away. If they are open to it, talk directly and gently with them about your concerns. Let them know that you are there to support them, and that you want to help them get help.
Tell your child that mental illnesses are just that: illnesses, not weaknesses. Provide them with information, particularly about how and where to get help. Offer to go with them. The most important thing is to let them know you want to support them. Be lovingly persistent in helping them find help.
The situation gets much more difficult if your loved one is unaware of or in denial about their mental illness. You cannot force your adult loved one into treatment unless they are a danger to themselves or others; at that point, you can petition the court to have your loved one committed to a hospital. You can consult with a social worker, another mental health professional, or a support and advocacy group such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
In all cases, it is important that you get some support for yourself as well. Find a professional you trust or a support group, learn about mental illnesses, and have a safe space where you can take care of yourself too.
What if they appear to be self-medicating with alcohol or drugs?
Substances can cloud judgment and make it even more difficult for your child to hear you. If they are using an illegal substance, there are concerns and risks regarding the law as well. Health risks increase with substance use as well, so treatment becomes even more crucial.
How can a social worker help?
Social workers can help families in a number of ways. They can be excellent sources of information about mental illnesses, about laws and policies, about resources for treatment and about benefits and entitlements. They can help families advocate for good services for their loved one. Social workers can also play huge roles in helping families deal with the feelings of grief and fear and guilt that families may experience when they have a loved one with a mental illness.
In addition, social works can advocate for policies that provide fair and adequate treatment for people with mental illnesses and that protect their rights and autonomy. Perhaps most importantly, social workers can convey a message of hope and recovery. With support, education, respect, and choice, people do recover from mental illnesses and have meaningful lives.
Get Help
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- I Am Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help! How to Help Someone Accept Treatment by Xavier Amador
- Find a social worker
Anna M. Scheyett, PhD, MSW, LCSW is associate dean at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill School of Social Work. Her major area of interest is working with adults with serious mental illnesses. Dr. Scheyett served on the NASW North Carolina Chapter board as member-at-large, secretary, chair of the Social Work/Criminal Justice practice unit, member of the Legislative Committee, and president. She is involved in the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Council on Social Work Education, and the Society for Social Work and Research. In 2005, Dr. Scheyett received a NC Heroes in the Fight award for community mental health advocacy, and was named NC Social Worker of the Year in 2007.
