Family Psycho Education

The Family Psycho-Education (FPE) subcommittee began its work in the fall of 2004. Membership includes representatives from the Practices Improvement Steering Committee, PIHPs that are implementing FPE, the University of Michigan, and consumers.

Family Psychoeducation (FPE) provides mental health consumers and families with education about what mental illness is and is not, how mental illnesses are treated and what a consumer or family member can do to cope with mental illness. FPE teaches how to make the most of available mental health and physical health services and engenders hope in consumers-in place of desperation and demoralization for continued recovery when under stress. Common issues addressed through FPE include participation in outpatient programs, understanding prescribed medication, dealing with alcohol or other drug abuse, and managing symptoms of mental illness that affect the consumer. Tools for problem solving are taught and learned so people who have symptoms of mental illness can learn to take better control of the symptoms and move forward to achieve their hopes and dreams. FPE is a long-term treatment model. Increasingly sophisticated coping skills for handling problems posed by mental illness are taught and learned. Consumer, family and practitioner 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 has over 20 years of controlled research that supports the efficacy and effectiveness in reducing psychiatric hospitalizations, increasing consumer employment and/or return to formal education and cost reductions. FPE programs follow the McFarlane model with regard to consumer recruitment 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 consumer advocacy groups. In fiscal year 2010, all PHIPs will include FPE as a part of the service array.

More Information regarding the FPE model can be found at: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/communitysupport/toolkits/cooccurring/default.asp.

Multi-Family Groups and the Treatment of Severe Psychiatric Disorders (William R. McFarland, Gilford Press 2002).