Family centred outreach for forensic psychiatry clients

This paper will describe issues arising from a National Mental Health Project funded programme. This programme which is currently operating in Victoria, aims to provide assertive outreach support to the families of clients who have a psychiatric disability with a forensic history, and to the clients themselves. The support offered to families and clients by the Epistle Post Release Service was provided on the basis that patients with a major mental illness are prone to stress-related breakdown. By addressing their needs in a community setting, together with the provision of psychoeducation, emotional support and practical assistance, anxiety levels are diminished in both families and clients with the result that relapse and reoffending rates are reduced.