Informal Caregivers As True Partners In Mental Health Recovery: Is It Time For A Complete Rewrite?

This viewpoint highlights the indispensable role of informal caregivers in mental health recovery. The authors note that mental disorders affect around one in eight people worldwide, with major impacts on family quality of life and substantial health system costs. Informal caregivers are advocated not as peripheral supporters, but as key partners in care pathways, to be recognized in public policies and clinical practice. Scientific evidence shows their involvement reduces relapses, isolation, and hospitalization rates. This viewpoint identifies significant psychosocial risks facing informal caregivers and stresses the need for tailored support measures. The authors underscore the need for comprehensive support measures, clearer institutional recognition, ethically balanced information-sharing practices, structured educational initiatives, and more rigorous research and evaluation frameworks. Five priority areas are proposed for transforming care models: recognition, support, ethics, education, and research. Neglecting informal caregivers weakens mental health systems, whereas including them helps build more humane, effective, and resilient approaches.