title: How families evaluate mental health professionals, resources, and effects of illness.
abstract: Evaluations by families (of chronically mentally ill individuals) of mental health professionals and resources were solicited through a mail survey. The respondents, largely better educated, white, and female, indicated a generally high level of dissatisfaction. Emotional support, information, and aftercare resources were identified as particular areas of concern. The survey findings present a challenge to mental health professionals to reconsider the effects of chronic mental illness on the family and the needs of the non-ill family members.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003688:Deinstitutionalization; D005260:Female; D006208:Halfway Houses; D006295:Health Resources; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011379:Prognosis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012917:Social Adjustment