Appendix 1: An overview of research

Partnering With Families Affected by Concurrent Disorders - Facilitators' Guide

In Appendix 1:

• Need for family services: Highlighting the evidence
• Approaches to working with families
• Family support and education programs
• References

Need for family services: Highlighting the evidence

Families play an important role in the lives of people who have substance use and mental health problems.

• Most people who have concurrent disorders have regular contact with at least some of their family members (Clark, 1996).
• Approximately two per cent of Canadians over the age of 17 are caring for a family member, friend or neighbour who has been diagnosed with a mental health problem (Decima Research Inc., 2004).
• Forty-seven per cent of people who are caring for someone who has a mental health problem have been providing care for at least five years (Decima Research Inc., 2004).

The majority of families are providing care because they feel it’s a family responsibility, but more than half of the respondents in the Decima study said that a lack of mental health services was a contributing factor in their decision (Decima Research Inc., 2004). Many families who take on the primary caregiving responsibility report some level of frustration with their interactions with the treatment system (Lucksted & Dixon, 1999).

Many caregivers have found information about substance use and mental health problems through support groups, publications and the Internet. But few have been given any formal training in problem solving, communication skills and symptom and medication management by the treatment system (Pickett-Schenk et al., 2006).

What are families looking for?

Mueser (2002) provides an overview of families’ needs based on several studies. He identifies the following areas:

• information about concurrent disorders
• strategies to decrease stress in the family
• help with problem solving
• collaboration with the treatment team
• increased social support.

Potential for partnerships between families and service providers

When given access, information and support, family members can become allies of the treatment provider (Torrey et al., 2002). Family members can:

• educate and motivate professionals by sharing first-hand experiences
• advocate for effective services
• provide training to clinicians
• help family members with concurrent disorders
• help other families
• monitor and support services through involvement on boards and planning committees.

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Partnering With Families Affected by Concurrent Disorders - Facilitators' Guide

• Overview
• Working with families
• Preparation
• Implementation
• Evaluation
• Session Outlines
  • Session 1: Introduction
  • Session 2: Substance use problems
  • Session 3: Mental health problems
  • Session 4: How concurrent disorders affect family life
  • Session 5: Self-care
  • Session 6: Stigma
  • Session 7: Navigating the treatment system
  • Session 8: Medication
  • Session 9: Relapse prevention
  • Session 10: Crisis and emergency
  • Session 11: Recovery
  • Session 12: Saying goodbye
• References
• Resources
• Appendix 1: An Overview of the Research
• Appendix 2: The Partnering With Families Affected by Concurrent Disorders Project

• Print