Family Psychoeducation

Family Psychoeducation builds on the family's important role in the recovery process of people with mental illness. People with psychosis experience markedly better outcomes when their families or other support people are involved. Family Psychoeducation can be used in a single or multi-family format.

FPE does not replace medication, but research has shown that there is a significant reduction in relapse rates and unemployment when family intervention, multi-family groups and medication are used at the same time. Families learn about improving relationships while learning what to do about the symptoms of mental illness.

Family Psychoeducation involves:

* Forming an alliance

* On-going education about the illness

* Problem-solving

* Creating social supports

* Developing coping skills

FPE is helpful to people who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar illness.

As a result of FPE, people served, and families learn to problem-solve about:

* Finding and keeping a job

* Taking part in social activities

* Family stress

* Disagreements about medication

* Lack of energy

* Drugs and alcohol

And families learn about:

* Mental illness

* Managing stress

* Navigating the public mental health system

* That other people have similar needs and experiences

* Improved family relationships and general health

* New ways to deal with the common problems caused by mental illness, problems that often create stress, confusion and disagreements, such as:

- Taking medication

- Finding and keeping a job

- Taking part in social activities

And as a result, there is:

* Improvement of clinical outcomes (fewer relapses and fewer symptoms)

* Reduced needs for crisis intervention and hospitalization over time

* Improvement in community functioning, and social activities, less isolation

* Increased satisfaction for consumers and families, a feeling of better control over life

* Less family strain and stress, less depression and anxiety

* Better employment retention

* Improved cost-benefit ratio

* Progress in Recovery

Family Psychoeducation (FPE) provides people served and their natural supports/families with education about what mental illness is and is not, how mental illnesses are treated and what family members and people served can do to cope with mental illness symptoms. FPE teaches families how to make the most of available mental health and physical health services, while instilling hope. Common issues addressed through FPE include increased engagement with outpatient programs, understanding prescribed medication, reducing the impact of co-occurring substance use, and managing symptoms of mental illness that affect everyone. 

FPE is a long-term family training model. Coping skills for handling problems posed are practiced. Persons served, family members and the practitioners work together to support recovery. FPE respects and incorporates individual, family and cultural perspectives.

FPE services in Michigan have been implemented as an evidence-based practice (EBP) under our federal community mental health block grant consistent with the federal Substance Abuse Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) FPE toolkit. FPE programs follow the McFarlane model with regard to recruitment of natural supports/families and joining activities, FPE facilitator's role, content of FPE sessions and other aspects of this proven method of intervention. Anecdotal evidence in Michigan shows that the model has also helped to develop more collaborative relationships with family and advocacy groups. 

More information can be found by viewing this video below.

FPE introductory Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68oBlF_5Aqs

For providers:  See improvingmipractices.com to find current FPE information