2004 Campus-Community Partnerships

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Helping Latino Families Care for Relatives with Serious Mental Illness

Abstract:

Our long term goal is to establish a partnership with Latino Behavioral Health Institute to carry out training and research that will lead to establishing self-sustaining, family-focused interventions for Latinos with serious mental illness. Our first aim is to assess the available mental health services (broadly defined) within a high density Latino community within the city of San Fernando. The second aim is to conduct a wide-spread educational campaign about serious mental illness and treatment. In particular, we will conduct presentations in Spanish and English to persons outside the mental health system who are likely to have contact with persons with serious mental illness, including health agencies, social service agencies, churches, as well as groups of residents. Our third aim is to identify all persons and their families within this community who have serious mental illness. Fourth, we will assess the level of mental health care these individuals received during the last year by professionals, nonprofessionals, and their families. These baseline data will identify the specific gaps in available mental health care and the burden to families. Such data will then be used to obtain funds to develop innovative family-focused services for Latinos with serious mental illness.