How to help my brother living abroad

Adviceplease99 · ‎08-10-2018

Hi,
I’m looking for some advice on supporting my brother.

We have suspected he was unwell for a long time but recently he admitted to having quite severe mental health issues. He’s been through a lot for the past 8 years, a close friend recently taking his life and an abusive relationship along with other stuff. He moved abroad at a very young age and is now living in quite a dangerous area.

A couple of days ago he was attacked by his ex-girlfriend, and he appears to be the lowest he’s ever been. He’s started smoking a lot of weed again and stopped seeing his counsellor. It’s got to a point that my parents are worried either he is going to take his own life or something will happen to him due to the area he’s in and because he is still in the house with his ex.

My parents have tried to support him for years but feel they have nothing left. We have all suggested ways to help himself and given him money etc. They feel their only options are to distance themselves for their own sake, or to fly to the US and try to bring him home to give him an opportunity to sort himself out.

I have also very recently moved here so we are all trying to support from different continents. We are all struggling with our own issues partly down to this. Has anyone got any suggestions for anything we can do to help him? I am struggling to stand back and watch things unfold because I am so worried for his life.

Thanks in advance.

Doolhof · ‎08-10-2018

Hi Adviceplease,

It must be very difficult trying to support your brother from a different continent. Are you saying that your parents are not in Australia nor in the US where your brother is? Is it possible for someone to go to the US to help your brother or to try to encourage him to relocate elsewhere?

At present, keeping in touch with him, trying to encourage him, help him make wise choices and decisions is probably all you can do. Knowing someone cares can be a huge benefit. Hopefully he will return to his counsellor.

Has your brother said he wants to be with family at all? Has he stated he wants to leave the Us? If so where would he go and how easy would it be to make that happen?

It must be very hard for all of you! Hope you manage to find some answers.

Regards from Dools