Hello,
I need advice about how to best support my family.
My mother was diagnosed with depression and a number of anxiety orders a few years ago. She takes medication, and used to receive regular counselling but has since halted her treatment.
My father has never been diagnosed or sought any kind of support, and immediately shuts down any conversation about mental health – he has a violent temper (parents are now divorced), severely isolates himself, is quite irrational and paranoid.
My brother has very low self-esteem, is severely underweight and has also never been diagnosed or seeks any kind of support. His perception of his physical body has raised some red flags (obsessively working out and dieting, radical changing of his appearance).
The real reason I am writing however is my sister. She is 21; she dropped out of high school and lives in a granny flat with my mum and step father, but has really left the house, has no friends, has not interacted with anyone outside of our immediate family for approximately 6 years. She used to be severely overweight, but has lost a lot of weight in the past two years. This week, unknown to the family, she ordered surgical equipment online in an effort to reshape her ears, and she ended up cutting one of her ears off. After this incident she has finally agreed to talk to some health care professionals.
Everything seems to have come to a head this year. My family all live in North Queensland, I live in Brisbane. I am wondering if I should move up north to be closer to them, and try to support them in a more meaningful way than I can being so far away. Any advice, or direction to other organisations where I can learn more would be very appreciated.
Thank you.
