Small-town shame preventing loved ones of people battling addiction from getting support

Experts say families and friends need mental health support, but stigma and small-town life stop many from reaching out for fear of identifying their loved one.It's recommended people find support that suits them, like online support groups or one-on-one counselling.

But she said fear of judgement and shaming stopped her from seeking support until 10 years ago when she realised there "was nowhere else to turn".Estimates show about one in six Australians will experience reliance on an illicit substance in their lifetime, which suggests every Australian knows someone struggling with addiction, even if they are not aware of it.

WRAD Health chief executive Mark Powell runs a support group for loved ones of people struggling with addiction and says there are several reasons for low participation rates in the regions. Mark Powell says there are strategies families can use to help get a loved one into treatment while supporting themselves.Mr Powell says people from interstate and overseas often join the online support group that launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, to avoid seeing people they know or because of a lack of local services.'I felt like a bit of an impostor'

"When I felt I was in a space of not just putting out fires every hour, I could reach out and engage in a support group." The group leader steered Candy towards one-on-one counselling as part of a pilot study focused on educating families of people struggling with addiction in the regions.She said the service is helping her navigate the "absolute grief" of her son's substance abuse and giving her tools to help him work towards sobriety, although it means she cannot participate in other support groups throughout the duration of the study.

Narcotics Support Family Drug Support Group Therapy Illicit Substance Use Illicit Substance Abuse Narcotics Group Therapy Therapy For Family Family Therapy Sobriety Support

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