Myths, Madness and the Family : The Impact of Mental Illness on Families

This work fills a gap in our knowledge about the experiences of families of people suffering from severe mental illness.

Drawing on original research, it is argued that families often struggle with complex feelings such as loss and shame, and with convoluted cultural beliefs about families and madness.

Families, if properly understood, can provide important support for people with severe mental illness.

Families themselves, through their activities and the beliefs that surround them, can make a significant contribution to our understanding of sanity and madness.