For partners & families

You do not have to solve the diagnosis

A loved one may seem withdrawn, unusually irritable, exhausted or unlike themselves. Begin with observations rather than a conclusion about a crisis, hormones or a relationship. You can ask what is happening without pretending to know the cause.

Separate care from control

Offer practical help such as finding appointment details or accompanying someone with their agreement. Do not impersonate them, secretly administer medication, or assume that paying for treatment gives access to their clinical information.

Your own needs matter too. Seek support for the effect this is having on you, especially when daily life has become organised around another person’s distress or substance use.

Have a plan for urgent changes

For immediate danger, use emergency support. A planned conversation, a retreat booking or an admissions enquiry is not an emergency response. Our urgent-help page sits outside the commercial care pathway.

The guides below contain sample language and preparation prompts. They cannot predict how someone will respond, and they are not a substitute for individual advice where there is a safety concern.