What is it about?
Families caring for someone with serious mental illness often face emotional stress, stigma, and a lack of support. This study asked families, users, and professionals what they feel is most needed in community-based mental health care. Families expressed the need for better communication, emotional space, information, and practical help. The study suggests changes to how support programs are designed—so they can better meet families’ real needs and improve the recovery journey for everyone involved.
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Why is it important?
Family members are often left out of mental health care planning, even though they play a crucial role. This study is one of the few to directly ask families what they need—alongside users and professionals—to improve support in community rehabilitation services. The timing is important: many mental health systems are shifting toward recovery-oriented care, and this work helps ensure families are included in that process. By identifying overlooked emotional and relational needs, our study provides practical guidance to design more inclusive, person-centered family interventions.
Perspectives
Working on this article was deeply meaningful to me, both professionally and personally. As a psychologist and researcher, I’ve often seen how families are expected to support loved ones with serious mental illness, yet are rarely asked what they themselves need. This study gave them a space to speak—and reminded me how essential it is to include their voices when designing mental health services. I hope this work helps shift the conversation toward more inclusive, family-centered care that values all those involved in the recovery process.
Javier Piris
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Needs of families of individuals with serious mental illness in psychosocial rehabilitation: A focus group-based qualitative study., Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, July 2025, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/prj0000655.
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