Pouring one’s life into helping a loved one suffering from a substance use disorder carries its own risks to ones own physical, financial and mental health . Impacts can include anxiety, depression, sometimes unrelenting. On October 8-9, first responders, teachers, clergy and mental health workers will have an opportunity to learn how to help the helpers. Families are offered a workshop with practical tools to help with stress, insomnia, anxiety and worry as well.

One in three families has been impacted by a loved one with a use disorder. Dr. Libby Stuyt will lead “Providers: Supporting Families Impacted by Substance Use/Mental Illness” on Saturday, October 8 at 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM, at Jenna’s House on 117 Saint Johns Road, Johnson (free, registration requested). Another session will be held Sunday, October 9, 4 – 5:30 PM at Rock Point Center on 20 Rock Point Road in Burlington (free, registration requested). 

The organizers are dedicating the conference to Patty, who lovingly cared for her family member with use disorder and schizophrenia for decades, before she was suddenly overcome with uncontrollable anxiety which deepened into an unrelenting depression. Sadly she succumbed to this suffering, drowning in a Vermont river in December 5 years ago. Patty’s family has donated to help bring Dr. Stuyt and  the evidence-based coping tools she teaches to Vermonters, especially impacted families and the state’s first responders and providers.

Providers, including EMTs and first responders, can be more effective when they learn to cultivate coherence, self calming and emotional regulation in themselves and the families.

This training will educate therapists, psychiatrists, social workers, mental health care workers, teachers, mentors, clergy, public safety professionals/ crisis counselors providers on the needs of families impacted by a loved one’s substance use disorder or severe mental illness.

The aim is to both increase awareness of the needs of impacted families for support and provide evidence based tools such as acupuncture, acupressure, biofeedback, emotional freedom techniques, and mindfulness training that can swiftly de-escalate a difficult situation by decreasing the family member’s stress, anxiety.

Two training for families and friends are also offered.

A $10 donation is suggested at both sessions to cover drinks and snacks provided.