ABSTRACT
The close family needs to know if a member of family is ill, depressed, or anxious, having mental health issues, or in treatment. There are many "old wives tales" and much social discrimination or prejudice about anxiety and depression, and people associate this with "mental illness". The family needs to know that social isolation, on top of any of current difficulties, makes things a lot worse. The family should know that a sudden onset of a mood disorder has a reasonably good prognosis: it is highly likely the person will get better in time. The family should also know that modern medications are pretty effective, and although some have side effects, these usually do not last very long. The family may really need to know a point of contact, someone they could call on if or when things take a turn for worse. There are a number of legitimate ones: spouse, flatmate, college, work, GP, clinical department, therapist, police, court.
