title: Mental health care in Germany: carers' perspectives.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the mental health care system in Germany from the point of view of the federal association of family carers of people with mental illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Family carer involvement and perspective are discussed on the basis of available literature, questionnaire surveys and documents of carer organizations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the beginning of the reform movement the views of informal carers were not discussed. Since 1985 family carers have joined forces to express their views on needs of the severely mentally ill and their carers. Their aim is to point out deficits of the care system and to work towards improved care for their relatives with mental illness and changes in the mental health care system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the reform process informal carers should receive support and be respected as experts and partners.
authors.affiliation: bapk@psychiatrie.de
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Brand
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D019090:Case Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce