The Role of Families in Inclusion of Persons with Schizophrenia in Chile

Full inclusión for an adult person means the capacity to have a fruitful work, to be capable of originate an own family, and a degree of participation in community life. When a person develops an schizophrenic crisis, usually lost his job, lost many friends, and he is segregated. He develops a profound dependence of his family. Because of this reason the role of family in recompose social bonds is crucial.

Research conducted in Chile about family perceptions shows that they are deeply overprotective, that they are afraid of eventual crisis, and, because of this, they favor protected works in rehabilitaion institutions, not “normal” or competitive works, they think that they cannot live independently, and to have a beloved stable partner.

This questions public policies based exclusivelly in reinforce family bonds without introducing family changes oriented to the development of the patient as an empodered person that guides his own goals. The problem is more complex that constate social stigma in general, because the dimensions of stigma permeates also families and in many cases the own person. These prejuidices are in many cases are shared by health profesionals.

We propose a multidimensional approach that, without discarding family support, redirects the efforts toward a true full and empowered inclusión.