Severe mental illness can pose a tough challenge for family members, per Rick:
There's trauma for the individual and there's trauma for the family. Family members, for many years and still for many of them today, really don't know how to deal with the situation.
Whereas society in general carries a lot of stigma associated with mental illness, which the individual who has the diagnosis internalizes. The family members, who might be the people who could be a catalyst for some change, carry that same stigma. And so they're aware of the kind of behavior issues for their loved one, but they don't understand them, and they are fearful in many cases and calling out for help.
Where can I send my loved one? In other words, let's get rid of them because we don't know how to handle this. And so family education has been as important as new treatments and access to treatment is for individuals who are affected. Education for family members is so critical, because if we can get someone out of jail or out of the hospital and into community treatment, but their family still is living with that stigma, perhaps not wanting to have anything to do with their loved one, then what are their chances of success?
