The Importance of Care Irrespective of Cure: The Daily Living Realities and the Service Experiences of Families with Children with Complex Mental Health Problems

This report summarizes the results of in-depth interviews conducted in the Summer of 2001 with parents from 12 families that had children who were or had been involved with an intensive, community-based service for children with complex mental health problems. This study had a dual focus: (a) to learn about the daily living realities of families with children who have complex mental health problems, and (b) to learn about families’ experiences with the mental health service. Qualitative analysis of the interviews yielded themes pertaining to each of these two areas of focus. The themes related to daily living realities paint a picture of the toll exacted on families from enduring the multiple, severe, and long-term stressors that often come with having a child with complex mental health problems. An overarching theme that emerged with regard to families’ experiences with the mental health service was “the importance of care irrespective of cure”