Families of the Mentally Ill Ignored

A March 9th press release from Schizophrenia Fellowship New Zealand:

"Families of people experiencing a serious mental illness are not getting the recognition and support they need from mental health professionals for the pivotal role they can play in a relative's recovery. This is leading to avoidable relapses, with families left to pick up the pieces" said Florence Leota, Chief Executive of Schizophrenia Fellowship New Zealand (SFNZ).

In an address at the Wellington launch of Supporting Families Awareness Week, Ms Leota commented on feedback from SFNZ branches throughout the country which overwhelmingly pointed to inadequate consultation with families by mental health professionals. Over 90% of branches reported that District Health Boards included families in recovery planning only sometimes or not at all.

Research has shown that people who experience mental illness have fewer relapses when their family/whanau is involved in their care and treatment.

"SFNZ is a staunch advocate for integrated care – this means complementing the use of clinical support for someone with a mental illness, with support in other areas that impact on their overall health and quality of life.

"Ten years ago SFNZ recognized the need to reinforce the rights of families/whanau within the mental health system so we developed the Code of Family Rights. New Zealand is the first country to have one and other countries are looking to follow our lead," Ms Leota says.

"However experience has shown that in practice, the rights enshrined in the Code are either not being observed at all or at best, not being observed very well. This confirms the need to see the Code regulated in the same way that the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights has been.

SFNZ is currently working with the Mental Health Commission in an effort to have the Code of Family Rights regulated.

"Families need a regulation that provides them with rights to services, information, consultation and support. The alternative is to undermine the recovery process for people with a serious mental illness, with an increasing number of relapses and families at the bottom of the cliff coping with the stress of the fallout," concluded Ms Leota.

Schizophrenia Awareness Week: Supporting Families

Thursday, 6 March 2008
Press Release: Schizophrenia Awareness Week

SF New Zealand will be celebrating Schizophrenia Awareness Week (March 10 -16), with a whole host of topical and colourful events from Invercargill to Whangarei.

The theme of Schizophrenia Awareness Week 2008 is Supporting Families in Mental Illness, in recognition of the challenges faced by families / whanau / aiga with a relative experiencing serious mental illness.

There are thousands of New Zealand families facing the challenges of living with a family member who has a serious mental illness, often without adequate support.

“People with a mental illness are not ill in isolation and families / whanau / aiga can play a key role in their recovery process” says SF New Zealand Chief Executive Florence Leota. “When a family member develops a mental illness, families find themselves facing challenges that they have no training for and often feel isolated, overwhelmed and confused about how best to help their relative.

“There are many families that provide day-to-day care for relatives with little or no support for themselves.

“This is where SF branches across New Zealand step in’, says Ms Leota, ‘we provide information, support, education and advocacy for families/ whanau / aiga in 21 towns and cities nationwide.

“Families often feel frustrated by the lack of services for their relative, and even when services are available, the family’s crucial role in their relative’s recovery process often goes unrecognised.

“We know that if you provide families with education, information and support, that the outcomes are better for everyone.

“During Schizophrenia Awareness Week, we will celebrate the positive work carried out by our branches and applaud the wonderful support that families provide on a daily basis.

“We want to highlight the importance of supporting families and acknowledging that they can play a key role in the recovery process when a family member has a mental illness” concluded Florence Leota.