Seeing a loved one suffering from a mental health disorder can be very painful. It is difficult to see one go through the pain of a mental health disorder and feel like you are helpless. It takes time to respond to treatment, and sometimes time for a loved one to enter treatment. However, there are some things you can do. One of the most important things to do is be nonjudgmental and supportive with your loved one. He or she might not be willing to enter treatment right away due to low self-esteem or fear of stigma. Also, going to see a therapist or psychiatrists for the first time can be scary for many people, as they don't know what to expect. One way you might be helpful is accompanying your loved one to his or her first appointment, to help him/her feel more at ease.

Some mental health disorders require more than this at time. Interventions involving all family members and loved ones of those who have substance abuse issues are being performed more and more. During an intervention, all loved ones ask an individual to enter treatment, setting firm boundaries if he/she doesn't. These boundaries may often include refusing to support a person, or have him/her live in the house anymore. These are designed to help stop any enabling of a person's substance use. Some disorders require legal action as well. People who are not competent to make decisions about their mental health disorder may go through a legal process in which a legal guardian is appointed to make these decisions for the person. When caring for a loved one, it is important to take care of one as well. This can be a stressful situation. The National Alliance for Mentally Ill often runs support group for both an individual diagnosed with a mental health disorder and the significant others as well.