Cares for families of people with mental illness

Abstract

Health politics defend that people with mental diseases should be kept within the community. The family is asked to look after these people, without being prepared for that. The family doesn’t understand their ill relatives neither the revelation of the illness, dealing as well with guilt, physical and emotional overload, social isolation and frequently economical difficulties. This study allows us to identify the health needs in the families with relatives suffering from mental illness, and develop healthy strategies to overcome the difficulties caused by the illness. Our aim is to promote health in these families. For this investigation we conducted semi-structured interviews within a sample composed by relatives of mental patients. The families feel insecure and don’t know what to do, saying it would be important to know how to deal with the ill person and where to turn to in case of family instability. The information allows us to help the family to readjust their new life projects.