Treating Multigenerational Mental Health Issues

Untreated multigenerational mental health issues can cause families to develop maladaptive dynamics that affect each member. According to the Indian Journal of Psychiatry, in India, "[F]amily members feel an intense emotional interdependence with each other and there is strong interpersonal empathy, closeness, loyalty, and interdependency."

Samarpan Health provides the best therapy treatments in Mumbai. Our clinicians understand the importance of incorporating family into the treatment process, especially in instances of multigenerational trauma.

The Impact of Multigenerational Mental Health Issues

In India, families are deeply connected, and most clients in recovery rely heavily on family for financial and emotional support. Some people may not have access to life-changing mental health care unless their family agrees to the treatment. In cases where multiple generations struggle with untreated trauma or mental health issues, some clients may not receive the support they need.

Intergenerational mental health issues have the potential to interfere with recovery due to the following:

• Enabling and codependent relationships that reduce the effectiveness of treatment
• Family members may see the mental health symptoms as "normal" or "untreatable"
• Individuals in treatment might struggle to maintain new routines when they transition out of treatment if they live with family members who refuse treatment for active disorders

Some families may feel shame or embarrassment about untreated mental health issues or severe symptoms. Instead of reaching out for help, they may cover up the problem by ignoring, enabling, or avoiding it. Samarpan Health provides treatment programs offering family support to multiple generations. We understand the vulnerability families face when multiple members need treatment.

Living With Family Members Who Avoid Treatment

Some family members may refuse to acknowledge that they have a problem. In addition, family members who have been previously traumatized by healthcare workers may avoid treatment to reduce the risk of re-traumatization. Being in recovery and regularly interacting with family members with active mental health issues can reduce the effectiveness of treatment. Families should be open to participating in the treatment process through clinician-facilitated meetings, family therapy, and other support services.

Some of the most common reasons family members avoid treatment include the following:

• Feeling ashamed of their condition
• Being in denial about needing help
• Fear of being hurt or having their autonomy taken away
• Ambivalence about recovery or treatment

Some family members may need to go through the treatment program alongside their loved one to achieve the best results. Every case is unique. Samarpan Health collaborates with families to determine how to reduce the side effects of multigenerational mental health disorders. Our clinical team will provide families with a range of treatment options that can help them heal together.

Finding Ways to Incorporate Family Into Treatment

Many clients have a support system built entirely around family relationships. Incorporating family into the treatment process often provides the client with motivation to establish and maintain healthy lifestyle changes.

Ensuring that family members take part in the recovery and treatment process does the following:

• Provides additional accountability for the client during treatment and continuing care
• Ensures the care team has a greater understanding of the client's condition and family dynamics
• Offers family members an opportunity to receive support for their own trauma

Families often benefit from attending community-based support groups and family therapy, marriage counselling, or individual therapy. According to the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, “[R]igorous studies have established the effectiveness of family interventions for various psychiatric disorders.” In many cases, “These interventions have traditionally included a heterogeneous group of caregivers comprising predominantly of parents and spouses and sometimes, siblings and adult children.”

Samarpan Health educates families and provides them with the tools they need to support their loved one's recovery.

Moving Forward From Multigenerational Trauma

Healing multigenerational trauma takes time, determination, support, and a willingness to embrace multiple forms of treatment. Most programs combine evidence-based therapies and alternative holistic methods to ensure clients and their families feel comfortable and confident in maintaining healthy changes. Samarpan Health helps clients and their families find ways to grow, heal, and move forward in recovery. Families in treatment can successfully recover from multigenerational trauma and related mental health issues.

Healthy Ways to Cope With Multigenerational Mental Health Issues

Therapy provides clients with healthy ways to manage their symptoms and cope with stressful situations at home. Clients will learn to cope with stressors using various techniques, including:

• Mindfulness, meditation, and increased self-awareness
• Emotion regulation and processing
• Expressive activities like art therapy
• Relaxation exercises, including deep breathing

Long-term recovery from mental health issues requires significant lifestyle changes. Some communities offer a range of support resources and mental health education to help families heal. Samarpan Health assists communities by educating individuals and providing high-quality mental health treatments. Our dedicated team of mental health professionals can help clients and their families recover from intergenerational health issues using evidence-based methods and tailored treatment plans.

Family connections are essential in Indian culture. Well-meaning family members may sometimes cause multigenerational mental health issues to remain undiagnosed or untreated. Early intervention and treatment are the best way to help someone recover successfully from a mental health disorder and reduce the risk of other family members developing their own related disorder. However, many families choose to enable or avoid dealing with the problem. In some cases, families may not know about the treatment options available. Samarpan Health, one of the top treatment centres in India, provides high-quality, personalized mental health treatment to individuals and families struggling with mental health issues. To learn more about our programs and services, call our office today at +91 81809 19090.