DO MENTAL-HEALTH-SERVICES REDUCE DISTRESS IN FAMILIES OF PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS MENTAL-ILLNESS

This paper examines how the provision of mental health services to peo ple with serious mental illness and their families is related to lower levels of psychological distress of family members. Researchers condu cted telephone interviews with 778 family members whose relatives were receiving publicly funded services for serious mental illness. They f ound that the level of psychological distress experienced by family ca regivers was lower in those families whose relatives with mental illne ss received more mental health services and when family caregivers exp erienced having a more collaborative relationship with providers in th e treatment process. For those family members living with their relati ve with mental illness, those who reported receiving information and a dvice from mental health professionals reported lower levels of distre ss.