Failing Families

Decreased average length of stay and inadequate number of hospital beds limit adequate acute treatment of serious mental illness. Residents sometimes receive mixed messages about the role of families when attendings, staff, or other residents complain or criticize family members who are “too involved” or who make reasonable requests that the system simply cannot accommodate. Residents should instead be taught that families are a critical element of care for patients with serious mental illness; assessing the nature and quality of family relationships should be a standard part of evaluation.