In celebration of World Mental Health Day on October 10, the Family Caregiving Project has launched a set of educational materials and tools that communities, professionals, educational settings and other groups can use to deepen understanding of the experiences of caregiving families in the context of mental illness. In doing so, the project aims to promote the creation of better supports for families in the mental health care system.
The Family Caregiving Project is a research study exploring the experiences of families affected by mental illness. Led by Charmaine Williams at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto, the study consists of three phases: a series of events called “Family Mental Health Cafés”, an online survey, and in-depth interviews with families. The project collaborated with five CMHA agencies for the recruitment and delivery of Family Mental Health Cafés throughout Ontario.
Education materials produced so far by the project include videos, infographics, a Family Mental Health Café toolkit, and other additional educational materials that can be used and shared to increase understanding of mental illness and its effects on families in our communities.
For more information and to access the new resources, please visit the project website.