INCREASED CONTACT WITH COMMUNITY MENTAL-HEALTH RESOURCES AS A POTENTIAL BENEFIT OF FAMILY EDUCATION

Objective: This study examined the hypothesis that families of adults with severe mental illness who participate in either a group family ed ucation workshop or individual family consultation will try to seek mo re assistance from community services than those in a control group as signed to a waiting list. Methods: A total of 225 family members who a greed to participate in the study were randomly assigned to one of thr ee conditions: a ten-week group workshop, individual family consultati on, or a waiting list (control group), Family members were interviewed about the extent of their contact with mental health professionals, p roviders, and community resources at baseline, termination of the inte rventions, and at six months after termination. Results: No difference s were found between conditions in the extent of family members' conta ct with three types of services: conventional, psychosocial, and ancil lary mental health services, Conclusions: Neither of the educational i nterventions produced any change in behaviors of families seeking advi ce and assistance on behalf of their ill relative from the three types of services examined. Modifications in the interventions may be worth while. Increasing family members' contacts with community resources on behalf of their ill relative may increase the benefits of the interve ntion to the family as well as to the ill relative.