Families' perceptions of burden of care for chronic mentally ill relatives.

Eighty-six family caregivers participated in small group interviews about their experience of burden in caring for mentally ill relatives. Families experienced profound burdens as a result of their interactions with the mental health care system, particularly in negotiating crisis situations; acting as patient advocates and case managers; obtaining adequate community resources, continuity of care, and information; dealing with legal barriers; and communicating with mental health professionals. Recommended methods of reducing family burden and improving the care of the mentally ill who reside in the community are family education, inclusion of the family in treatment decisions, changes in current mental health laws, redirection in professional training, and development of mobile crisis teams.