1. Social Supports

2. Why is social support important?
Positive support increases family strength and reduces feelings of isolation, embarrassment and guilt.
Helps reduce strain.

3. Who are your supports?
Family Whanau Friends Support groups Sporting and recreation groups or clubs Church communities Agencies Colleagues GP
Ask group what else they have as supports

4. Draw social network diagram.me
Partner
Family
Sporting club
Friends
Use this time to do your own social network diagram
Put yourself in the middle and write names of people (or agencies) around you, and use different symbols for the type of relationship:
E.g.:
Strong/weak
Supportive/un-supportive
One you want to make stronger vs. those you want to distance yourself from.
Have a think about the session on communication and how you can get your own needs met from these relationships.

5. What social supports do you have?
What support do you want from them? How do you get social supports that aren't working so well to work better?
Ask the group these questions, have them discuss who they have and what they get from them and how they help.
How do they get support?
Remind them of the session on assertive communication.

6. Convinced nothing will ever change?
Remember:
People with alcohol and other drug problems CAN and DO change.
You might not be able to change them but YOU can change!
Remember - people with alcohol and other drug problems CAN and DO change. It might take time and it is their decision to make, not yours.
You don’t need to wait for the other person to get well before making positive changes yourself.

7. Further support
The Alcohol Drug Helpline AL-ANON The Family Services Directory The Mental Health Foundation Supporting Families
Further support
The Alcohol Drug Helpline
This helpline may know of specific services for families in your area, but are also able to talk directly to family, whānau and friends.
The Family Services Directory
Family services vary from region to region. The Family Services Directory has a list of support agencies in your area -
The Mental Health Foundation
This organisation is a good source of information for family, whānau members and friends who are concerned about mental health -
AL-ANON:
Al-Anon offers support to all people affected by the alcohol use of a loved one or friend. Ring this number to find meetings and contacts in your area.
Supporting Families
A nationwide network of support for families of people with mental health and addiction problems -

8. Who can you contact?
Police – 111 A&D Helpline – Mental Health Line – A&D Service – Supporting Families –
Local numbers
If a person is at risk of harm to self or others police
If there are physical health concerns – ambulance ED at the hospital for urgent matters or less urgent then GP or local health provider
Mental health concerns – CATT