Community families: A qualitative study of families who volunteer to support persons with severe mental illness

Background: Social interventions targeted at people with severe mental illness (SMI) often include volunteers. Volunteers’ perspectives are important for these interventions to work. This article investigates the experiences of volunteer families who befriend a person with SMI. Material: Qualitative interviews with members of volunteer families. Discussion: The families were motivated by helping a vulnerable person and by engaging in a rewarding...