The family experience of mental illness: Evidence for resilience.

A national survey was used to explore the potential for resilience among family members of people with mental illness. The sample included 131 family members: mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, and extended family members. Responding to open-ended questions, participants were asked to describe any family, personal, or consumer strengths that had developed as a result of the mental illness. Family resilience was reported by 87.8% of participants. Personal resilience was reported by 99.2%; and consumer resilience by 75.6%. Components of these composite scores were identified. Implications of these findings are discussed, and suggestions for professional practice are offered.