Washington, DC – Families of loved ones with mental illness are about to get more help thanks to Caregiver Action Network (CAN). Today Caregiver Action Network is launching a brand new website, Blueprint for Families of a Loved One with Mental Health Issues, to help families address some of the challenges they face when caring for a mentally ill family member.
“Mental illness affects the whole family,” said John Schall, Chief Executive Officer of CAN. “Family caregivers all face big challenges and mental illness adds an additional layer of complexity. Sometimes the patient may even refuse to have any family help at all, insisting that they can manage their illness on their own.”
Blueprint for Families of a Loved One with Mental Health Issues provides information specifically tailored to family caregivers of those affected by mental health issues through four resources:
- Supporting Your Loved One with Their Medication Plan
- Frequently Asked Questions about Patient Privacy (HIPAA)
- Discussing Mental Health with Doctors
- Peer-To-Peer Family Caregiver Support Community
Blueprint for Families of a Loved One with Mental Health Issues helps families with answers to difficult questions that family caregivers commonly ask, such as “I feel so helpless; what can I realistically do to be helpful?” or “What are my rights and responsibilities as a family member of someone with a mental illness?” With over 25 years of providing help and resources to family caregivers, Caregiver Action Network is the leading expert on family caregiving issues.
“We hope ‘Blueprint’ will help family caregivers in one of the toughest situations there is – caring for a family member with a mental illness,” Schall said.
About CAN
Caregiver Action Network (www.CaregiverAction.org) is the nation’s leading family caregiver organization working to improve the quality of life for more than 90 million Americans who care for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities, disease, or the frailties of old age. CAN serves a broad spectrum of family caregivers ranging from the parents of children with special needs, to the families and friends of wounded soldiers; from a young couple dealing with a diagnosis of MS, to adult children caring for parents with Alzheimer’s disease. CAN reaches caregivers on multiple platforms. CAN (the National Family Caregivers Association) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing education, peer support, and resources to family caregivers across the country free of charge.