A survey to assess family burden to take care of the mentally ill and to define needs for mental health services of families with mentally ill was carried out as a type of community need assessment. A total 171 main caregivers of mentally ill who
registered at Kangam Community Mental Health Center were interviewed by the authors. More than 90% of them were the poorest covered by the government medical security program.
@ES The results were followed:
@EN 1) The support network of families with mentally ill who registered at Kangnm Community Mental Health Center was very weak and could be more disintegrated within 10-15 years in the future.
2) The main causes of family burden were due to the disruption of family interactions, the effect on mental health status of other family members, and financial difficulties.
3) Servicies to lessen the financial burden was the most frequently expressed need. Needs for education, getting information about mental illness, home-visiting by mental health professionals, and the crisis intervention were freauently
espressed.
4) There were some differencies in nature and severity of family burden between caregivers of inpatient and outpatient and according to patient's diagnosis.
5) The authors proposed that it will be necessary to introduce public mental health services and community mental health facilities such as family oriented rehabilitation program, home visiting, housing program, communith support systems
including
social wellfare services to lessen family burden and support the families with mentally ill as soon as possible.
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