Patient and family advocacy: working with individuals with comorbid mental illness and developmental disabilities and their families.
There are many factors to consider when working with individuals with mental illness and developmental disabilities and their families. Working in collaboration with individuals and their families using a patient- and family-centered care approach is vital. This approach informs the professional's values and practice patterns thereby allowing them to help the individual and family deal with common challenges and stresses such as establishing relationships with care providers, ensuring coordination of care, family concerns, knowledge of important systems of care, and the need for advocacy.
McGinty
Kaye
K
Department of Psychiatric Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, 600 Moye Blvd., Greenville, NC 27834, USA. mcgintyk@ecu.edu
Worthington
Ralph
R
Dennison
Whitney
W
D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological