The aim of this descriptive and qualitative study is to analyse how acceptance of mental illness is perceived by family members of the patient and the surrounding community. This study was conducted with the help of 10 families of patients with mental disorders admitted to the psychiatric emergency unit of the Municipal Hospital of Maringá, state of Parana, Brazil. Data were collected from October to December 2010, in open interviews and submitted to thematic content analysis, resulting in three categories: "Care, a constant requirement", "Living with a patient with mental illness: a whirlwind of emotions", "A wall constructed with stigma and prejudgement: the need for deconstruction". The conclusion is that an understanding of the disease is vital for acceptance of the illness itself and of the patient, and that healthcare professionals must remain close to the family to provide support, answer queries related to the disease, and help the family to face the difficulties of everyday life.
Family; Mental Health; Nursing