Mental Health & Families
Mental illness affects around 20% of Australians every year, but it is treatable. When individuals are suffering from mental illness it often has a ‘ripple effect’ on all other family members (remember the Family Systems Theory!). Different family members are impacted on in different ways depending on the role they play and how much extra care they need to give. To gain a more detailed understanding please complete the following tasks.
• Select a mental illness or disorder (Hint: choose one that is easy to find information on)
• Define the disorder using the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5)
• Consult the literature to understand the impact of the disorder on the individual, and also the way it impacts on the family members
• Explain the legal steps that may need to be taken if the sufferers decision making capacity is diminished (Australian legislation)
Total word count: 1,100 words
The answer should be succinct and fully referenced (11 references; journal articles, textbooks, DSM-5, reports, legislation)