Plan a supportive family conversation

Begin with a conversation you can actually have

A generic web page cannot decide whether a particular family needs a formal intervention or what consequences are appropriate. This guide offers a conversation-planning structure instead. SAMHSA's guidance supports a calm, listening approach with open questions.

Choose a time to ask whether the person wants to talk. Keep observations separate from conclusions. Asking what support they would welcome can be more useful than presenting a diagnosis you have made yourself.

Use three private planning notes

1. What I noticed: describe a specific observation without publishing the person's identifying details.
2. What I want to understand: write an open question that leaves room for their perspective.
3. What I can offer: identify practical help you can realistically provide, and the limits of that offer.

These notes are for your preparation. They are not a treatment plan, a script that guarantees a response, or a requirement to share private information online.

Get support for yourself

Family-focused peer resources and qualified professional support can address different needs. The family-support guide links to organisations that include family members and friends. Where decisions about safety or care are involved, discuss the situation with an appropriate professional rather than treating a forum reply as an assessment.