British Columbia Schizophrenia Society

Families have a right:

• to explicit information that families do not cause mental illness.
• to basic information about diagnosis, treatment plan, options, and prognosis.
• to information about behaviour management, advice and guidance about resources in the community, and the availability of peer support.
• to education that can assist them in coping with mental illness.
• to respect from professionals for the expertise of the family, as well as the sharing of power in the therapeutic process.
• to become appropriately assertive and to overcome traditional socialization that teaches families not to question authority.
• to be involved with their family member as a support system and resource.
• to have a social ethic that is more concerned about the welfare of the person with mental illness than cost effectiveness.
• to a mandated role on governance or advisory boards and a voice in mental health planning that directly affects their lives.
• to a non adversarial legal system that is understanding of potential tragedy and helpful in attempts to prevent disaster from occurring.