The meaning of care for the family in mental patients' psychosocial rehabilitation: a theoretical review

uma revisão teórica

Abstract

This essay attempts to carry out a theoretical review of the meaning of care for the family in mental patients' psychosocial rehabilitation, either as a process which promotes skills and autonomy or as a process that reinforces and creates forms of social exclusion and loss of autonomy since it goes through another person's desire. The authors discuss how the act of caring takes different characteristics in each society and is determined by social, cultural and economic factors. Overcoming social representation, which excludes the families from the care provided to mental patients, is one of the great challenges to be faced in order to reverse the institutional model of care. The insertion of family and users into the new model of mental health care will allow for the sharing of mental patients' care and assistance among these actors to the extent that they may take a place often designated for professionals and psychiatric institutions.