title: Exploring the needs of diverse consumers experiencing mental illness and their families through family psychoeducation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Family psychoeducation (FPE), an intervention for those experiencing serious mental illness and their families, aims to improve communication and build problem-solving skills. Limited research exists on carers' and consumers' needs who engage in FPE, or FPE's impact on needs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to describe the needs of consumers with mental illness and their carers, who participated in behavioural family therapy (BFT), a type of FPE, and evaluate changes to needs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative responses to the Carers' and Users' Expectations of Services questionnaires were analysed to describe consumers' and carers' needs. Participants' quantitative responses were analysed using descriptive statistics, to evaluate changes in needs post-programme.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants' needs included information on mental illness and improved relationships. Post-programme, the percentage of consumers' satisfied with their lives increased, while the percentage of carers' reporting a need for more assistance decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further development of BFT programmes in clinical and non-clinical services is warranted to address the needs of diverse consumers and carers living in the community.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry , Psychosocial Research Centre, University of Melbourne , Melbourne , Australia .|b Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences , La Trobe University , Melbourne , Australia , and.
authors.forename: Freya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coker
authors.affiliation: b Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences , La Trobe University , Melbourne , Australia , and.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry , Psychosocial Research Centre, University of Melbourne , Melbourne , Australia .
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.affiliation: c Mind Australia , Heidelberg , Australia.
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hamann
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry , Psychosocial Research Centre, University of Melbourne , Melbourne , Australia .
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Harvey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003153:Community Health Services; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Carer; consumer; family psychoeducation; mental health