Family Guide to Mental Illness and the Law A Practical Handbook

Family Guide to Mental Illness and the Law offers the nuts-and-bolts legal information and problem-solving steps families need. This accessible resource explains how common legal issues uniquely impact people with various forms of mental illness and what family members can do to help. Readers will
learn how to
- help protect a loved one's job, housing, or medical care
- participate in hearings about guardianship, involuntary commitment, bankruptcy, and more
- assist in making financial arrangements
- navigate federal laws surrounding the Family and Medical Leave Act, HIPAA, disability claims, and workers' compensation
- steer criminal proceedings away from jail and toward treatment

Beyond the legal system, this book also guides readers in interacting with officials and authorities, lobbying for better laws, and working with local governments towards improving policies that affect those with mental illness. Complete with real-world examples, Family Guide to Mental Illness and
the Law provides practical advice and eases the feelings of isolation that often accompany loving someone with mental illness.