A diagnosis of a serious mental illness can abruptly change lives. Feelings of frustration, bitterness, and anxiety are common for both the person experiencing the condition and his or her family. The uncertainties of the future often can seem overwhelming.
That’s why the COPE™ Program was created. It provides practical and useful information for understanding and coping with psychosis-related disorders on a daily basis.
Within the COPE™ Program, people who have experienced serious mental illness are referred to as patients when appropriate (as in relation to their health care providers) but also as consumers, as they are consumers of mental health services and goods. The term family encompasses both the traditional meaning of the word and the broader interpretation that reflects many contemporary situations.