Program helps family members who want to learn more
Addiction and mental health struggles don’t just affect the person who is going through them but can also affect the friends and family members of that person. In order to help people find better ways to support their loved ones the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is looking to host a Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) workshop in the Interlake.
“The CRAFT program is for people struggling to understand, particularly if they’re living with people with a substance use disorder, or a mental illness. When you’re walking on eggshells all the time, not knowing how to respond, what the program does is give you a whole different way to communicate based on more of an adult relationship,” said Michael Kurek, firector of Family Programs for the Canadian Mental Health Association Manitoba and Winnipeg.
Kurek explained that when someone starts using substances when they are a teen sometimes their family relationships can get stuck in that space because their emotional life can be affected by the use of substances. He explained that the program helps parents and loved ones of the person experiencing substance use disorder or mental health challenges to create new adult relationships where they can interact instead of react.
The first CRAFT program to take place in our community took place last year in Selkirk and there is now interest in hosting another 6-week session. Residents who would like to take part should contact the CMHA to let them know they are interested in participating and ask to be contacted and when there are enough participants that the program will take place.
Kurek explained that people often will call to take part in the class when they are in crisis but that this class isn’t just for those in crisis. Anyone with a loved one experiencing substance use disorder or mental health challenges who would like to learn ways to help can take part.
The CRAFT program was created and developed by Robert J Meyers, Ph.D. and adapted by Kurek for the CMHA and Bruce Oake Recovery Centre.
Kurek says that the biggest module in the whole program is the communication module and one part of it that people learn is how to start a positive conversation.
“[In the communication module, participants learn] what they call the sandwich, which is very, very simple. Begin with something positive, state how you genuinely feel, state what you want and at that point, it should just be having the conversation and then ending with something positive,” said Kurek.
Overall, the aim of the program is a simple one. To give participants useful tools that make a difference.
“There was a family therapist Virginia Satir decades ago she explained that the quickest way to change someone’s behaviour is for you to do something different. And, that’s exactly what CRAFT does. It teaches people to approach their loved one in a different way and they will get a different response,” said Kurek.
Having programs like this is important for those people who are in need in our community and Kurek says that participants who come out of the program learn that they are capable of having healthy interactions with their loved ones.
“My goal is getting the word out and getting this training to as many people as possible so that more and more this will become a way of life and we’ll change our policies and the way we look at addictions and mental health,” said Kurek.
If you would like to contact CMHA to ask to be notified when a new session of this program starts, you can go to the CMHA website at www.cmhaacrossmb.ca/about-cmha/contact-us and contact the CMHA Interlake Eastern branch to let them know about your interest.
Kurek strongly encourages residents to reach out if they want to learn more.
“It will change your life for the better,” he said.
