Mental health policy and practice across Europe: an overview

Carers and families 389
Conclusion
There is a substantial body of literature on the profound impacts, both positive
and negative, on family carers of people with mental health problems. There is
also evidence that family support for mental health service users can be important
to their long-term quality of life. Some positive benefits for people with
mental disorders of community-based care can be enhanced by access to everyday
family support; for instance, it may reduce the chances of crisis events or
rehospitalization.
The economic value of caring is substantial, yet too often this is perceived as a
free resource. Without the support provided by family carers, additional professional
support may be required in order to maintain the same level of help and
support for people with mental health problems. Providing additional support
for family carers can help enhance the positive aspects of caring while reducing
some of the negative consequences in terms of the impact on carers’ physical
and psychological health, employment status and opportunities to enjoy
leisure.
The balance of services in any mental health system, of course, will be
dependent on the availability of human and capital resources. Strategies to
promote the rewards of caring and reduce the burden on families ideally should
be set within the context of a balanced package of mental health services. This
might include a range of community mental health support providing community-based
living arrangements, access to rehabilitation services and interventions
for families.
The development of European, national and regional policies on mental
health should encourage active contributions from all stakeholders including
service users and family members. It is important not only to put in place, but
also to enforce, national laws and international conventions aimed at protecting
people with mental health problems and facilitating greater access to information
and support. One key area where legislation can play a vital role is in
ensuring that people with mental health problems and families have some
assessment of their needs for support and also have access to information on
what supports may be available.
Family associations can also play a vital role in providing information, support
and a social network for family members who, in some circumstances,
can become very isolated; they might also feature significantly in the mixed
economy of mental health service provision (see Chapter 4). As we have seen,
stigma and discrimination are major problems and awareness campaigns to
debunk some of the myths that surround mental health may be helpful. Clearly,
it is vital to look at ways to further empower people with mental health problems
to make decisions about the services and support they wish to receive
(see Chapter 14). Equally, carers can also benefit from greater empowerment
over services and support that best meet their particular needs.
Note
1 See www.eufami.org for a detailed list of member organizations.