Carers of persons with severe mental illnesses: an under recognised resource for mental health care

As community based mental health care has steadily grown all over the world, the number of persons with various types of mental illnesses who are cared for by their family members, relatives, friends, peers, and other non-professional, unpaid carers has also increased. In low-and-middle-income countries, the majority of persons with serious mental illnesses are looked after at their own homes by family members. The care and support provided by the family are often under recognised and undervalued. Families and carers experience various positive and negative (burden of care) effects on their well-being. There is an urgent need to provide pragmatic care, support and family psychoeducation at all mental health care settings.