Evidence-Based Practices: Shaping Mental Health Services Toward Recovery

Family Psychoeducation

Information for Consumers

Does your family…

understand your symptoms?
know how to help you?
understand what you need?
understand your recovery process?
know how to help you with recovery?
have a good relationship with you?Family Psychoeducation can help you and your family work together towards recovery.

Understanding Family Psychoeducation

When you have a mental illness, it can be hard on the whole family. Sometimes it may feel like your family doesn’t understand what you’re going through, or how to help you. Family psychoeducation is a way you can recover with your family’s help. It is a way your family can learn what kind of help you would like from them.

Who is Family Psychoeducation for?

This program will help if you have a mental illness and other problems, especially when a stay in the hospital has been necessary. Family psychoeducation has been shown to be helpful for persons with:

schizophrenia
schizoaffective disorder
bipolar illness
major depression
borderline personality disorder.

Who is included in Family Psychoeducation?

Anyone who is helping and/or supporting you in your recovery - parents, other relatives, close friends, neighbors. They do not have to live in your house or apartment.

How will Family Psychoeducation help?

You and your family learn ways to work together to support your recovery by solving problems that interfere with recovery. Your participation in this program may result in fewer symptoms, fewer relapses, and better relationships. The goal is to help you with recovery while getting more out of community life. You and your family work with practitioners to solve problems like...

finding and keeping a job
taking part in social activities
family stress
disagreements about medication
lack of energy
drugs and alcohol

What do other people have to say?

“It was only after I entered a multi-family group about four years ago that I came to terms with my illness . . .right off you could see that it’s organized to help the patient and the family find out what works for you as an individual. The thing that really helped me start to change is the problem solving [format]. You could see other people trying things and moving ahead…that gave you hope to try things, too.” – a consumer

What changes will I see?

Studies show that when you and your family learn to solve problems related to your illness, your path to recovery will have:

more involvement in family life and social activities
better health and fewer medical problems for all family members
better work opportunities
fewer relapses
less time in the hospital
fewer symptoms
less need for medication
less depression, more energy and motivation

Plus...

Your family can help you reach your goals.

How does it work?

You become part of a team made up of you, your family and practitioners. Sometimes, families of other people with mental illness are involved, too. While working on your recovery, you learn the difference between the illness and who you are as a person.

Introductory sessions

You and your family meet with a practitioner, together or separately. You talk about what is going on, such as your hopes for the future, family problems, your symptoms, or medication.

Educational workshop

You and your family learn about your mental illness and ways you all can help with your recovery...especially by staying well.

Problem-solving groups

You and your family learn how to identify and deal with the problems that mental illness puts in the way of recovery and life. Sometimes there is more than one family in the group; then you share information and ideas for getting ahead. You meet once every other week, for as long as you find it helpful.

How do I start?

Tell your family, case manager, therapist, nurse or psychiatrist you are interested in this type of program.

For more information

This document is part of an evidence-based practice implementation resource kit developed through a contract (no. 280-00-8049) from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) and a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). These materials are in draft form for use in a pilot study. No one may reproduce, reprint, or distribute this publication for a fee without specific authorization from SAMHSA.

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