Intro Family Introduction Journey of Hope Program Evaluation Church-Based Support Groups for Families of Persons with Mental Illness Family Coping and Resiliency Family Family members frequently are the major providers of support and care for persons with mental illness.
Relatives often provide housing, financial aid, companionship, and emotional support.
They also seek out and secure the mental health and social services their ill relatives need. Being a primary caregiver, however, can be emotionally, physically, and financially overwhelming for families. Many families shoulder their caregiving responsibilities with little knowledge about the causes of mental illness, how these illnesses are treated, or where to go for help. The stigma attached to mental illness often leads to feelings of guilt and shame, which in turn makes families reluctant to share their experiences with friends and can also prevent families from finding the resources they need. Moreover, a history of family-blaming and parental scapegoating by mental health service providers has made some families feel alienated from professional assistance.