you first realize that someone you are close to may have a mental illness,
it can be a chaotic and frightening time. You fear where this may lead.
Suddenly you are called upon to provide special support for which you
feel completely unprepared. What can you do? Who can you talk to?
in this situation, this guide is for you. It gives information and advice
from others who have been through your experience.
you're reading this in an emergency, click
you have time, the rest of this guide will help you understand what's
going on and suggest what you can do to help both the ill person and
yourself. This guide passes on the advice of doctors, mental health
professionals, and people who have been in the role of a companion,
as you now may be.
the word companion to refer to the friend, family member, or co-worker
who is there with someone at the start of a mental illness. A companion
is different from a "caregiver." That much broader term also includes
many kinds of highly experienced care providers and trained professionals.
A companion, for us, is an ordinary person who is plunged into a bewildering
and sometimes frightening situation and wants to know how to help. This
guide shows how a companion of a person with mental illness can play
an important role, one which is increasingly appreciated by health care