The Tie That Binds and Heals:
Families' Life Experiences with Mental Illness

 

Recovery Process

• Acceptance; accountability/responsibility and the "do" attitude/desire to recover

• Support Network including friendships/companionship of peers

• Family Support

• Medication Management

• Individual and group therapy

• Aftercare services for mental health monitoring and follow-through

 

 

Implications for Practice and Policy

• Individuals Diagnosed with Mental Illness

  • Development of a Recovery Program, including the following components:

    • Renewing hope and commitment

    • Redefining self

    • Incorporating illness

    • Being involved in meaningful activities

    • Overcoming stigma

    • Assuming control

    • Empowered and exercising citizenship

    • Managing symptoms

    • Being supported by others

• Family Needs

  • Information about mental illness; hands-on-training about mental illness

  • Development of skills for coping with and managing mental illness

  • Development of self-care skills

  • Development of caregiving skills; families are looking for information in helping their family member diagnosed with mental illness to maximize their potential and develop an authentic quality of life

  • Psychoeducational groups for families specifically addressing the needs of all family members -- parents, siblings, spouses, and offspring; providing informational and emotional support in a holistic family-centered atmosphere

• Mental Health Professionals

  • Development of educational programs addressing the following issues:

    • Collaboration with family

    • Basic information on mental illness

    • Stress management skills for families

    • Utilization of the mental health system

    • Helping family members meet their own needs

    • Behavioral issues

    • Manage professional and ethical issues, including issues of confidentiality

• Mental Health System

  • Families are not using the mental health system as intended as a result of their negative experiences (e.g., excluded, ignored, disrespected)

  • Mental health services may be available but due to a complicated system that is fragmented and disconnected the delivery of services is ineffective

  • Family members and mental health professionals are all seeking ways of better communication and yet this need continues to be unmet ... development of a communication policy is needed which includes acceptance, validation, acknowledgement, and respect for all parties involved

Limitations of the Research Study

• Small sample of families in Minnesota solicited from mental health organizations that typically advocate for individuals and families experiencing mental illness and may have more knowledge and information than families not yet connected to mental health services

• Participants were primarily Caucasian from middle class backgrounds and urban population and the research study focused on adults diagnosed with mental illness and did not address the issues of families with children (under the age of 18) experiencing mental illness and their unique challenges

• Program directors were difficult to engage in the research study due to limited time availability