Mental Illness in the Family traces the development of treatment approaches with families of the mentally ill over the past three decades. The essays in this book reflect the work of clinicians currently dealing with families in a variety of settings and from a number of perspectives. Topics covered include patients' views on programs for the mentally ill, the needs of families coming to terms with the mental illness of a family member, 'the forgotten sibling,' the concept of grief, the confusion that a family member can experience when dealing simultaneously with the mental health and the criminal justice systems, and the effect of parental mental illness on young children.


This volume will be of particular interest to social workers, clinical psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals who work primarily with individuals and families who have been affected by major mental illness.