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How to Hold a Successful Mental Health Intervention

Mental health problems affect people from all walks of life. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, approximately one in five U.S. adults experiences some form of mental illness every year. Teens are also likely to struggle with mental health issues, with more than 21 percent of youth aged 13 to 18 having a mental health disorder at some point. Tragically, many people go their entire lives without seeking help for their mental health problems. If someone you care about is struggling with a mental health problem, holding an intervention for them can convince them to get treatment before their self-destructive tendencies derail their entire life.

How Can You Help? Do They Need a Mental Health Intervention?

People living with mental health problems are rarely willing to take the initiative to seek help on their own, which is why it often takes outside influence to enable people to acknowledge that their challenges and struggles are real. 

Mental issues affect the way people see themselves, as well as how they relate to others. For example, someone with debilitating depression or anxiety may come to believe they don’t deserve to feel happiness. However, as a close friend or family member, you can play a vital role in helping your loved one get treatment that allows them to get back on the right track.

By intervening at the earliest signs of a problem, you can save your loved one’s life. Waiting too long or assuming the issue will go away on its own can lead to crisis situations such as loss of a job, suicidal tendencies and run-ins with the police. 

When to Plan a Mental Health Intervention

In some cases, a compassionate conversation that expresses your love and concern will be enough to encourage the person to seek treatment. However, the longer you put off broaching the topic of mental health with your loved one, the worse their challenges will become. In those cases, they may require an intervention before they will be willing to admit they have a problem they can’t solve on their own.

A professional interventionist has the skills to advise you on what to say to your loved one during the meeting, what treatments to recommend and how to keep your emotions in check during the process. They can also help you decide how to phrase what you will say, which can make a significant difference in whether the subject of the intervention reacts with tolerance and acceptance, or with hostility and defiance. 

Holding an intervention without guidance from someone with the proper training can backfire dramatically. Most successful mental health interventions rely on guidance from a professional who knows when and how to hold one, what to say and how to recommend the appropriate course of treatment.

Plan Your Loved One’s Mental Health Intervention Today

Recovering from mental health disorders can be challenging, but not impossible. When people agree to get professional treatment for their mental health problems, including one-on-one therapy, trauma treatment and customized wellness plans, they can regain their peace of mind and experience a well-rounded life.

Persuading your loved one to seek help for their mental health problem is an essential first step. However, there’s more to it than that. Regularly check in with your loved one about how their therapy is going. Ask what’s going well, and if there’s anything you could do to help. Knowing others care about their progress is often enough to encourage people living with mental health disorders to continue making progress, no matter what obstacles they might be facing.

If someone you care about is living with mental health problems, reach out to us at Whitman Recovery Services. We can help you orchestrate an intervention that successfully gets them on the path to healing.