Benefits and Changes for Family to Family Graduates

Abstract

Family members of people with serious mental illnesses (SMI) need information and support to cope with the considerable stresses they experience. The Family to Family Education Program (FtF) is a structured, peer-led, 12-week information and support self-help class for such individuals. Previous research by Dixon et al. (2004) shows reduced subjective burden and increased empowerment among graduates. The present study sought to understand what processes take place during FtF participation that might lead to these benefits, as a first step in building a conceptual model of how FtF causes its effects, using semi-structured interviews with 31 FtF graduates. Qualitative data analysis suggested that new factual and emotional information from FtF shifts interviewees' understanding of their situation and that skills acquired through FtF then allow participants to incorporate these new perspectives into more adaptive behaviors. These changes led to both proximal and distal benefits for the FtF participants interviewed. The results are discussed in the context of self-help, stress-and-coping, and trauma recovery theories.

Sustained outcomes of a peer‐taught family education program on mental illness

“…Subjective burden decreases were also found in our previous studies (13, 14). This fits with our previous qualitative findings regarding change processes among FTF graduates (16) who described themselves as deriving both immediate and time-lagged benefits from FTF. However, the absence of a control condition during this period prevents us from being sure that the changes observed were indeed owing to FTF.…”

“…The immediate benefits gained by Journey of Hope participants were sustained 6 months after that program ended (11), as were immediate post-FTF benefits to participants in both previous smaller studies (13, 14). In a qualitative study examining the processes through which FTF helped participants (16), some participants reported that FTF benefits were still unfolding 1–3 months after FTF was over. However, these samples were all of modest size.…”

An Evaluation of the NAMI Basics Program

“…Family-to-Family is currently available in 46 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico, and is the most commonly used model of family education (Dixon et al 2001;Lucksted et al 2008). In 2007, demand for a similar program for family caregivers of children and adolescents with mental illnesses resulted in Family-to-Family's progeny, NAMI Basics.…”

Effects of a Family-to-Family Support Program on the Mental Health and Coping Strategies of Caregivers of Adults With Mental Illness: A Randomized Controlled Study

“…Chien et al (2008) further reported that the FFS program decreased the family burden while increasing the family functionality and social support. Lucksted, Steward, and Forbes (2008) interviewed with the caregivers who completed the FFS program. The subjects reported that they solved problems more efficiently, their self-confidence increased, they became more understanding toward the patients, they had less anger and stress, and they could cope with stress more effectively after joining the FFS program.…”