One of the most exciting things to happen in the field of mental
health is the effort to share a clearer understanding of what persons with
mental illness go through in dealing with their illness. More and
more, research (and the calls from consumers) confirm what is just common
sense: people want to know what is happening to them; how to deal with
it; and how to get the effective help they need.
But what is almost equally as important is for the families, friends,
and relatives who care for persons with mental illness to share a similar
understanding. Consumers know how distressing the symptoms are--and
how it can frighten or upset those who are expected to have empathy.
Family members know how upsetting the illness is, how it has changed
important relationships so much. They have been frightened,
saddened, angered--and probably confused.
Of course persons with mental illness want to be understood--and know
they are not alone in wrestling with such a difficult brain disease.
But family members ALSO want their own needs to help to be understood--and
the many losses they, too, have experienced.
But most of all, family members want their relations with those
suffering from mental illness to improve--to become a working partnership
for recovery.
Some relief is on the way (in fact is already here at Touchstone
innovaré): Family Psychoeducational Programs. Called FACES at Ti,
Psychoeducational Programs help create "informed consumers" and "informed
family members"--persons who understand their illness, families who share
that understanding. The federal government believes in the
importance of such programs and is highlighting it as an evidence-based
practice that should be standard at mental health programs.
The website can be found at the National Mental Health Information
Center:
http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/communitysupport/toolkits/family/.)
Please take a look at a nice
Summary for Family Members on Family Psychoeducation.
