Require family involvement in the care of adults with severe mental illness

Background

Introduce national standards to require mental health teams to gather information from close relatives when assessing adults with severe mental illness, ensuring decisions reflect the full picture. Disregarding family input can be damaging to the patient and can put them and the public at risk.

Additional details

Families often witness serious changes, risks and distress that professionals may not see as patients can mask symptoms during appointments. When their concerns are excluded, safety and recovery can be undermined. Policy must ensure their voice is included so care is compassionate, informed and responsive.

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