Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs (Scottish Families) is a national charity which supports anyone affected by someone else’s alcohol/drug use in Scotland. We give information and advice to many people and help them with confidence, communication, and general well-being, and we link them to local support.
We have several local and national Family Support Services. Our national Family Support Services include our Helpline, Bereavement Support, One-to-One Telehealth and Holding On Support, and our Click and Deliver Naloxone programme. We also have Local Family Support Services in Aberdeenshire, East Dunbartonshire, Forth Valley, Fife and Inverclyde. We will always refer family members to appropriate local services if they do not live in the areas covered by our local support.
It takes on average 8 years for a family member to come forward for support and for every person who uses alcohol or drugs, 11 people are impacted. Families are often exhausted, demoralised, frightened and sad. Together, our role is to re-energise and encourage them to discover the skills they have and to help them see that they can be empowered to make choices and move forward positively.
In your role as a Community Link Worker, you are often at the forefront of providing crucial support to individuals and families facing various challenges. We have included some information below that may be helpful for your work, whatever situation you find yourself in.
Contact Details
Scottish Families offers support to anyone in Scotland over the age of 16 who is affected by someone else’s alcohol/drug use.
Our Helpline is available on 08080 10 10 11 or helpline@sfad.org.uk. We also have information and webchat available on our website www.sfad.org.uk.
As a Community Link Worker, you have access to our professional referral form where you can directly refer a family member to our services. Our form is available here https://www.sfad.org.uk/support-services/referral.
Mental Health
Knowing someone who uses alcohol/drugs can cause a lot of strain on our mental health. Family members often experience stress, worry, anxiety, isolation, and depression as they navigate this challenging situation.
Recognising signs of mental health struggles is crucial and encouraging self-care is essential. Families will often only be focused on their loved one’s health and wellbeing, but we need to show them how important their own mental health is. We encourage family members to reach out for support from their friends, professionals, services like Scottish Families, and their doctors, who can all make a positive difference to their mental health. Being aware of these challenges is crucial. Offer an understanding ear and support families with appropriate resources and connections.
Creative Coping
At Scottish Families, we offer Creative Coping which is designed to empower families during difficult times. Engaging in creative activities such as photography, gardening, or writing can provide a therapeutic outlet. Creativity gives self-confidence, emotional healing, and personal growth, offering families a positive way to navigate challenges together. Creativity is not limited to those who consider themselves naturally artistic. It is a quality that anyone can tap into and embrace. Many family members have expressed how challenging it can be to express their emotions and make time for self-care. Creative Coping encourages self-care, self-expression, and moments of peace. By encouraging family members to take time out for themselves and be creative, you are supporting their mental health and wellbeing and giving them the valued time they need.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a powerful tool for families affected by someone else’s alcohol/drug use. It gives self-awareness, emotional regulation, and resilience in the face of challenging situations. By practising Mindfulness regularly, families can acknowledge their feelings and reactions without judgement. And they have a deeper understanding of their own needs and boundaries.
Encouraging family members to use mindfulness is a useful tool as it will help them find strength and clarity when life is chaotic.
Counselling
Scottish Families has a bereavement counselling service, and we are advocates for counselling and therapy in general. You can play a key role in advocating for our counselling service to family members. Counselling lets family members explore the emotions that can come with grief and the challenges faced by losing a loved one. It can help families adapt to life without their loved ones after their death. Families experience many conflicting emotions, and it’s normal for them to feel guilty, sad, angry, or even relieved. These emotions can coexist and are an essential part of the grieving process.
With alcohol and drugs, some deaths can be sudden and unexpected which leaves families without the chance of saying goodbye and can cause more grief and distress.
Counselling provides a safe space for us to express our feelings and navigate the complicated emotional landscape of loss. Counsellors help us work through our emotions, including those we may not fully understand or accept. The goal of bereavement counselling is not to ‘recover’ from grief but to adapt to life without our loved ones and eventually find moments of joy and continue living.
Full information on bereavement through alcohol and drugs can be found on our website https://www.sfad.org.uk/support-services/bereavement.
Kim Klufas is the Development Officer (National Support and Harm Reduction) at Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol & Drugs
