Do you have a close relative that seems to suffer from depression, anxiety, or some type of mental illness? Watching someone suffer from these issues can be depressing and frustrating, especially if the person refuses to get help. If you know someone that really needs help, you may want to start creating a plan to persuade and encourage him or her to seek help from a psychiatrist. As you plan for this, here are a few steps you can take that may help you achieve your goal.  

Accept That He or She Cannot Think Clearly

It might be extremely clear to you that your loved one is not well and needs professional help, but you cannot assume that this fact comes across clearly to your loved one. In fact, you should accept the fact that your loved one cannot comprehend this concept. Mental illnesses, including depression, often disrupt a person's ways of thinking. These illnesses cause people to think irrationally, and this is primarily because their brains are not functioning in ways that are normal.

Because of this, you cannot expect your loved one to simply agree to get help after you explain to him or her that you have concerns. This is not because your loved one wants to continue living like he or she is living, but it is because your loved one may not realize there is even a problem. This factor makes it challenging to persuade someone to get help, but you should not give up for this reason.

Research Mental Illness And The Available Treatment Options

As you spend time researching mental illness, you might be able to grasp a better understanding of how it can affect a person's actions, thoughts, and decisions. You will also learn that there are treatment options for most types of mental illnesses, and one of the best options is psychiatry.

A psychiatrist is a doctor that treats people with mental illnesses with two main methods. The first method is through talk therapy. Talking to a person with a mental illness is a great way for the doctor to understand and diagnose the person's condition. The second method involves medication. If a person is truly mentally ill, the person's condition might improve significantly if he or she takes the right type and dosage of medication. Through psychiatry, your loved one might be able to live a normal, productive life.

Approach Your Loved One The Right Way

After you have researched this subject and are ready to approach your loved one, it's important to strategically plan what you will say. Here are some tips to keep in mind to help your discussion encourage your loved one to seek help:

• Do it in love – People in general tend to respond better to tough conversations when they feel like they are loved. When you begin the conversation, tell your loved one that you love him or her. Let him or her know you care and are concerned about his or her wellbeing and future. Keep your tone gentle and kind from the start.
• Give a clear recommendation – As you talk to your loved one, make sure you clearly express what you would like him or her to do. This may involve visiting a psychiatrist weekly, or you might want to recommend going to an in-house program at a local facility.
• Place conditions on your request – If your loved one currently lives with you or if you help him or her in various ways, you may want to place conditions on your request. In other words, you may want to say that you cannot continue helping him or her if he or she refuses to get help. You do not have to be mean about this, but you should make your conditions clear and understandable.
• Offer to be there – Mental illnesses can be scary, and your loved one might handle your requests easier if you vow to be there for him or her. Make sure he or she knows that you will do all you can to help him or her get the help that is needed.

Psychiatry services can make a big difference in a person's life, and this could be the start of a new life for your loved one. To learn more, contact a clinic that specializes in psychiatry today.