Social Support
What is social support?
Seeking help with personal issues from a friend, family member, doctor, or someone else that you trust
What is a coping skill?
Something that you do to handle stressful feelings, events, or situations that you may be in.
What is mental health medication supposed to do for you?
It is supposed to help you with your major mental health systems that affect your overall functioning
What is a healthy lifestyle?
Something you do on a daily basis to maintain your health
What does relapse mean?
When you experience significant mental health symptoms after you get discharged from the hospital
State an example of a time when someone gave you social support
A time when a friend helped drive you somewhere, a time when you talked to someone about something important in your life, etc.
State a coping skill and how it helps
The coping skill should be used to help with symptom management (improve mood, stop voices, help with physical tension, etc.)
True or false: you need medications to manage your mental health symptoms
Mental health medications are the strongest intervention that we have to help manage mental health symptoms
Brushing teeth, showering, eating, drinking water, etc.
True or false: it's not possible to relapse once I get discharged from the hospital.
False. Relapse can happen to anyone. Research has shown that relapse is common for people, but that it is possible to successfully manage mental health symptoms.
State how you can be a social support to someone else
Be a good listener, provide encouragement, say a kind word to someone.
State your favorite coping skill, why it's your favorite, and how it helps you
"I like listening to music because it makes me feel better. When I'm feeling down, it lifts me up."
True or false: medications can take a long time to have an effect.
True. Your body needs time to adjust to the medications that you are given.
State a healthy lifestyle that you would want to try
"I want to try drinking more water," "I want to exercise every day," etc.
How do I know I am relapsing?
Why is social support important?
State an instance or feeling that you experience and a coping skill that you use.
"When I get into an argument, I take a deep breath and make sure I do not raise my voice."
True or false: you only need to take your medication to manage your mental health symptoms.
False. Although medication is the strongest intervention to manage mental health symptoms, it is also important to have a healthy social support system, exercise daily, eat healthy, recognize signs of relapse, and use coping skills regularly.
Why is maintaining a healthy lifestyle good for you?
Because it helps you feel good, clean, and improves your self-esteem, in addition to many other reasons.
What is something you can do when you experience a sign or symptom of relax?
Use a coping skill, talk to a friend, talk to my doctor, make sure I am taking my medications, avoiding drugs and alcohol, exercising, etc.
Every team member name one person that could be a social support to them
Social support can include friends, family, direct care staff, rehab staff, peers, people who attend support group, etc. Anyone that you trust who helps you.
State a coping skill that you want to try while here at the hospital, and how you could try it.
True or false: Once I find a medication that works, I don't have to worry about my mental health symptoms any more.
False. When the medication works for you that is great! However, you need to continue to check on your mental health so you can make sure you don't relapse.
How does having a healthy lifestyle improve your mental health?
By improving healthy lifestyles (exercise, healthy eating and drinking, maintaining hygiene, etc) it helps your body function better, helps you feel better, and improves your mental health.
In your own words, what does it take to prevent relapse?