The Burden of Families Coping with the Mentally III: An Invisible Crisis

The costs families bear after assuming their recently acquired responsibilities for mentally ill relatives are examined and the significance of the high prevalence of families experiencing adjustment problems is discussed in terms of who supports the support system.

Abstract

With deinstitutionalization, families have acquired a care-giving responsibility for their mentally ill relatives. This study examined the costs families bear after assuming their recently acquired responsibilities. A random sample of 125 families who had one post-hospital member at home revealed relatives paying a high price. The impact on the family was separated into two types of burden, objective and subjective. The significance of the high prevalence of families experiencing adjustment problems is discussed in terms of who supports the support system.