How Does Family Life Affect Mental Health?

Mental health issues can be an extremely painful and traumatic time for all of the family and have huge impact on a family's financial and emotional components. When it comes to mental illness, the emotional and behavioural consequences for family members go largely ignored. It is clear that individuals' mental health problems have consequences for others within their social networks, most notably, their family.

Looking after a family member with a mental illness can be an extremely stressful time and coping with the stress may rouse various reactions such as somatic problems (migraines, loss of appetite, fatigue, Sleep), cognitive and emotional problems (anxiety, depression, guilt, fear, anger, confusion) and behavioural troubles (changes in attitude, and social withdrawal).

Family life can become unsettled and unpredictable as the needs of the ill become paramount. Studies show that a large number of family members have had to, on one or more occasions, leave their job, whilst others said they have had to give up their recreational pursuits. Social lives are usually the first to go as they may feel nervous about inviting people into their home and find it difficult to open up to people about their relative's problems.

Whilst the influence of poor mental health on families is largely misunderstood, the consequences are extremely apparent to those actually suffering from mental illness. A study by 'The Priory Group' reported that individuals with mental health issues felt their emotions and behaviour put "extra stress" on their family, with one patient reporting that: "my addiction affected everyone close to me." Another mentioned that they "isolated" their family and some even reported being physically violent towards members of their own family. Nearly all mentioned that their loved ones became upset and worried about them.

Another area highlighted by the survey was the effect that mental health had on patients' children. Children are often too young to fully grasp the consequences of mental illness and find it difficult to understand why their parent isn't well or is acting unusually. Therefore, many tend to blame themselves and grow up feeling different, lonely, and isolated. Ultimately this may lead to the child developing psychological, behavioural, and social problems of their own.

In the short term, mental health problem can cause people to feel alienated from their peers because of the perceived unattractive personality traits or behaviours. They can cause anger, sadness, fear and feelings of helplessness if the person does not know or understand what is happening. In the long term, mental health disorders can drive a person to commit suicide.