Supporting Someone With a Mental Illness or Addiction

In Case Of An Emergency

If you think someone may harm themselves, you, or someone else, call 911 or the 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline immediately. Advise the operator that the call is a mental health and/or addiction emergency.

The reality of caregiving for someone with mental illness and/or addictions can be complex. Mental health issues can come with stigma, and lengthy wait-times for specialized services.

For caregivers, this reality can create challenges to find the support you need.

Steps you can take right now:

Understand the symptoms and triggers the person you’re caring for is experiencing
Educate yourself about mental illness and addiction
Advocate and learn how to combat stigma
Don’t take symptoms that cause challenging behaviors personally
Prepare a written crisis plan, before it is needed

Get Help

Explore our resources below to find community support, peer groups and more.

Useful Links

Mental Health Information and Support

Embrace Caregiver – A resource hub for caregivers of mental illness and/or addictions.

Health Connect Ontario – Free phone support with a registered nurse.

Institute for Advancement in Mental Health – Find free one-to-one support along with customized information for caregivers.

CAMH – Get help and medical intervention for people suffering from mental health or addictions.

Pleo – Find free family peer support for caregiver parents.
Mental Illness Education and Information

Roadmap to Caregiving: The Realities of Mental Health & Addiction – OCO’s eLearning library offers a self-directed course to help caregivers navigate the unique challenges that come with supporting someone with a mental illness of addiction.

Mood Disorders Association of Ontario – Find free presentations and other support for families dealing with mental health and addictions issues.

National Alliance on Mental Illness – Attend free courses designed to help family members support the people they’re caring for and maintain personal wellbeing.

Sashbear Foundation – Free education, training, and support for people who are in a relationship with someone who has emotion dysregulation or related problems.
Substance Use or Addictions Support for Families

Adult Children of Alcoholics – Find support groups for adults who grew up experiencing alcohol related addictions at home.

Al-Anon/Alateen – Find a support group for family members of someone with an alcohol addiction.

Families for Addiction Recovery – Get free phone support for families affected by addictions.

Nar-Anon – Find a support group for family members of someone who has a substance use disorder.
Concurrent Disorders / Dual Diagnosis

A Family Guide to Concurrent Disorders – A guide for family members of a person with concurrent disorders.

Dual Diagnosis: An Information Guide – Find basic information about dual diagnosis along with services and supports available in Ontario.

WATCH

Related Videos

Watch useful videos on this topic.

Video Library

Reality of Caregiving for Mental Illness and/or Addiction

4 min

WHAT’S IN THIS VIDEO

See how caregivers like you cope and find the support they need.

How to Help Someone You Care for Access Mental Health and Addiction Support

4 min

WHAT’S IN THIS VIDEO

Learn how to find support and get help for the person you’re caring for.

Finding Hope for Caregivers of Mental Illness and/or Addiction

4 min

WHAT’S IN THIS VIDEO

Hear from caregivers about how to find hope amid crises.

Caring for an Adult with Mental Health Challenges

6 min

WHAT’S IN THIS VIDEO

Hear from caregivers who have experience supporting someone with mental illness.

Caring for a Child/Youth with Mental Health Challenges

6 min

WHAT’S IN THIS VIDEO

More than half of caregivers who are supporting someone with a mental health challenge are not coping well. This is their wishlist.

The Caregiver Journey: Caring for Someone with a Mental Health Illness

49 min

WHAT’S IN THIS VIDEO

This joint webinar, by the Ontario Caregiver Organization and the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario explores the mental load of the caregiver; care for the caregiver; the realities of mental health in relation to the caregiver, and the stigma of mental illness.

Health Law: A Primer for Family Caregivers in the Mental Health and Addictions Sector (Part 1)

51 min

WHAT’S IN THIS VIDEO

Learn how the Health Care Consent Act and Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 affect individual rights and strategies for navigating the health system.

Health Law: A Primer for Family Caregivers in the Mental Health and Addictions Sector (Part 2)

46 min

WHAT’S IN THIS VIDEO

Watch a discussion on the mental health system, community services, risk management and practical strategies to navigate the health care system.

Caregiving and Eating Disorders: Expect the Unexpected

57 min

WHAT’S IN THIS VIDEO

Learn about the caregiver’s role in supporting recovery from an eating disorder and strategies and resources, including caring for yourselves as well as others.

Listen

Podcast Library

Caring for Someone With Addiction

What’s in this podcast:

Host Michelle Jobin is joined by Louise White, co-founder of Families for Addiction Recovery to discuss free services available to all Canadians.

I’m a caregiver

Steve
Caring for: Brother

read

Steve’s Caregiver Story: It’s Important to Know You’re Not Alone

Steve shares insights and tips learned while caring for his brother, who suffered from schizophrenia.

You might also find these pages useful.

Here are a list of suggested pages based off this topic.

Am I a Caregiver?

Supports for Caregivers

Tools for Caregivers

What's on this page