Family Council - Courage has many faces

Breakthrough

Winter 2005-06

By Beth Jacobs, Family Council

When I hear the word "courage", I often think of someone springing into action - like a firefighter going into a burning building to rescue someone. Courage seems to be an active, external concept - the ability to step into the unknown without hesitation, to do what must be done in the moment to protect life. These are certainly aspects of courage - but there is another lesser known face. One that is internal, quiet, almost invisible at times.

It takes tremendous courage, strength, and resolve to recover from mental health and/or substance use challenges. It takes a different, but equal amount of courage, strength and resolve to support someone who is in recovery. Family members face the unknown when a loved one has a mental health or substance use problem. There is no way to predict what the road to recovery may look like for anyone, and the family member can only be a passenger on that trip. They are there to support their loved one, but they cannot take the journey for them. When holding a space for someone else's healing, there is an exquisite dance that takes place between supporting and assisting them and allowing them room to make their own choices, their own mistakes and their own discoveries. Every day, family members must do what is needed in each moment, whatever it might look like, to hold out a space of support and encouragement for the loved one in recovery.

It takes courage not to be overwhelmed by the many challenges family members experience along with their loved one as he or she works through their recovery process - the health crises and the inevitable setbacks that occur; the frustrations that come from dealing with a healthcare system that has its resources strained to the limit; the discrimination encountered that places limitations on people and creates roadblocks as they work to rebuild their lives and reclaim their fullest possible role in society. It takes courage not to give in to despair, not to give up the battle, but to hold a space of hope for healing, for renewal of lives and dreams, for recovery for the loved one and for the family member themselves.

This kind of courage is what inspires the Family Council to continue its work advocating for the best possible client- and family-centered healthcare. CAMH, in partnership with the Family Council, is holding a "Family Week" from February 13 to 17, 2006, with events including a Family Fair and a mini-conference on February 14th, and an evening workshop on "Taking Care of Yourself (for Family Members)" on February 16th. Please consider joining us for one or more of these events. For further details, call the Family Council office at 416 535-8501 ext. 6490.

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