Family Assessment in Mental Health Emergencies

According to Clare and Birchwood: ‘assessment of the family is essential for gaining an understanding of an individual’s social functioning, whether he or she is living with the family or not’ (Clare and Birchwood 1998, p. 51)

According to Clare and Birchwood the following are useful considerations when assessing a family context: ‘family or caregiver burden; family coping skills and styles, as well as beliefs and knowledge about mental illness; social and financial circumstances; values and expectations of the family’ (Clare and Birchwood 1998, p. 52).