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We are naturally concerned for our loved
ones and what we can do to be more effective in dealing with them in the
family context or as a good friend or partner. But there is more
that we can do.
We live in a social and legal environment
that has a tremendous impact on the lives of those who are mentally ill
and the families that support them. There is the politically
correct view that we have made great strides in overcoming the stigma
attached to mental illness. And there is the reality that quite
often we see that little has changed. The mental health system,
while improving all the time, still has huge gaps in the services that
it provides particularly to children and young people. Privacy
laws can sometimes prevent families from being full partners in the
treatment of their loved ones. These are only a few of the
impediments we face. So what can be done?
The answer is
advocacy on behalf of the mentally ill.
The
Treatment Advocacy Center
The Treatment Advocacy
Center, based in the United States, is an excellent resource which
provides many practical tips on how you can become an effective advocate
on behalf of your loved one. This is a link to their website:
http://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/index.php.
For practical tips on
becoming an advocate click on
"Take Action" "Helping a Loved One" where you will find several
resources including "Advocacy
in Thirty-minutes" and "Tips
for Families".
Want to write a letter to the editor?
Download this pdf courtesy
of the Treatment Advocacy Center for some excellent tips on writing good
letters to the editor.
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