Program form

1) Small, closed groups facilitated by family members highlight the universality of family and create high cohesion; this leads to a positive group dynamic.

Universality

High cohesion

Positive group dynamics

Family-led peer group Closed-membership

Five times per course

Small group

Learning style

2) A textbook-based learning style in which experiential knowledge is shared leads to increased knowledge, insight, and self-awareness.

Insight Self-awareness

Embeddedness of knowledge

Combination of textbook and experiential knowledge

Family peer learning

3) A family-led peer learning style decreases loneliness and promotes both self-acceptance of disability and embeddedness of knowledge.

Reduced isolation Disability

acceptance

Embeddedness of knowledge

Sharing experiences

4) Understanding persons with mental illness and learning how to handle difficulties through sharing experiential knowledge improves family relationships.

Better family

relationships

5) Some families find hope by sharing their experiences with other families and serving as models for other families. They look back on how far they have come to understand the extent of their own recovery.

Self-awareness Hope

Facilitation skills

6) Group work focusing on families’ strengths and the acceptance of emotional disclosure is linked to reduced self-stigma.

Catharsis

Reduced self-stigma

Group work focusing on families’ strengths

Acceptance of emotional disclosure

Omotenashi

Group facilitation with teamwork skills

7) Group facilitation with Omotenashi and teamwork skills in family facilitators accelerate interaction among group members.

Higher interaction Positive group dynamics