Rights of Families

A variety of factors - primarily the confidentiality laws regarding mental health  treatment and the historical blaming of families for mental illness - contribute to families being shut out of the treatment process. Families are often shut out even when people who have mental illness sign waivers enabling clinicians to communicate details of illness and treatment and the following information is helpful whether or not a waiver has been signed. If your family member regularly signs waivers, make sure your family member signs a new waiver each time they enter a new facility. And most waivers need renewing each year.

Here are few things to do:

• If you know or suspect your family member is in a specific facility and a waiver has not been signed, you may send the clinicians letters detailing your relative's history and different characteristics you have noted about your relative's illness. You may also call the clinicians and give them information over the phone, but limited resources in the mental health system may make them difficult to reach in person. You should do this even if your relative has signed a waiver enabling the treatment professionals to communicate with you. Your historical memory of the illness and your relative is valuable to treatment and you should be keeping a diary.
   
• There is a list of questions you should Ask the Psychiatrist. They will not conflict with most confidentiality laws in the event your relative has not signed a waiver. You should seek this information from the treating psychiatrist or another psychiatrist at the facility where your family member is.
   
• There is a list of Statutory Rights and Guidelines regarding family participation to keep in mind.

Source:  NAMI-San Francisco,  a non-profit, California corporation 415-905-NAMI (6264) 1010 Gough Street San Francisco, CA 94109 NAMISF@fsasf.org