News & Blogs
22nd September 2026Support for Families, Support for You
Written by, Helen Wallace, Low Threshold Drugs & Alcohol Outreach Worker Simon Community
When someone is experiencing difficulties with alcohol or substance use, the impact can reach beyond the individual.
Addiction can be difficult for the person experiencing it, but it can also create uncertainty for the people who love them. Families can find themselves trying to offer support while not always knowing what to say or what to do.
For some, that means living with a constant level of worry, wondering where their loved one is and whether they are safe or not.
“More often than not, family members blame themselves. They wonder whether they caused the problem or whether they could have done something differently.”
That sense of responsibility can add another layer of emotional pressure for families already trying to support someone they care about.
“When you care about someone, it is natural to want to help.”
But knowing how to support someone experiencing addiction is not always straightforward. Families may avoid difficult conversations or worrying that saying the wrong thing could make an already challenging situation harder.
“This does not mean that the person experiencing addiction is deliberately creating difficulty for those around them. Addiction is complex, and people experiencing substance use difficulties may themselves be dealing with trauma, poor mental health, homelessness or other significant challenges.”
At the same time, those around them can have their own support needs. Friends or extended family may not fully understand what they are going through, while stigma surrounding addiction can make it harder to speaj about.
“Families can feel judged by others or feel that friends and family don’t truly understand their worries and stresses. That can become very lonely.”
Supporting families is not about placing blame on the person experiencing addiction. It is about recognising that everyone affected deserves understanding and the access to support.
“Caring for someone does not mean losing yourself.”
One of the key areas explored within Simon Community’s Family Support Group is healthy boundaries. Boundaries can feel uncomfortable, particularly when someone you love is struggling and your instinct is to help.
“Boundaries help protect the family member and create clarity about what they can and cannot do. They aren’t about punishing someone; they’re about keeping relationships and expectations healthier.”
It can mean recognising that loving and supporting someone does not make you responsible for their recovery.
Families can also feel pressure to find a solution or make things better, but recovery is rarely straightforward. There may be progress and setbacks, a relapse does not necessarily mean everything has been lost.
Understanding more about addiction and recovery can help families respond with greater confidence and compassion, while recognising that their own wellbeing matters too.
Simon Community’s Family Support Group grew from a simple but important recognition, when someone is experiencing difficulties with alcohol or substance use, their family and loved ones may need support too.
For one member of the team involved in developing the group, that understanding also comes from personal experience.
“I know what it is like to have someone in your family struggling with alcohol addiction and to feel that there is very little support or understanding available for the family.”
That experience helped shape the five-week programme into a space where people can listen and connect with others who may understand some of what they are going through.
“There is no expectation to be an expert, to have everything figured out or even to share your story before you feel ready.”
The group explores areas including healthy boundaries, communication, addiction and recovery, and looking after your own wellbeing.
Sometimes one of the most valuable parts of support is being in a room with people who understand.
Our Family Support Group is not about telling people what they should do or placing is responsibility for someone’s recovery on their family. It is about providing information and support while helping people recognise that their own wellbeing matters too.
If someone you love is experiencing difficulties with alcohol or substance use and you are unsure whether the group is right for you, you do not have to have everything figured out before coming along.
You can come as you are, listen, learn and spend time with people who understand.
Join our Family Support Group in Bangor
Our next Family Support Group begins:
📅 Monday 12 October
🕕 6pm–8pm
📍 26a Rathgill Park, Bangor, BT19 7TG
🗓️ The group runs for five weeks
You can sign up using the QR code or contact our team directly:
📧 southeastoutreach@simoncommunity.org
📞 07435 754 302/ 07435754301
Whether you have questions about the group or are ready to sign up, our team would be happy to hear from you.
Get in touch with our team
Bangor Family Support Programme Registration Form
5 week programme of support for families affected by alcohol or substance use in Bangor, starting 3rd August 2026.
