Families’ perception and their acceptance of the person with schizophrenia play a major role in the course and outcome of schizophrenia. Based on in-depth interviews with people with schizophrenia and focused group discussion with their care givers, this article identifies the factors that influence family acceptance which in turn nullify people’s experiences of stigma and discrimination in an urban metropolis of India. Factors that strengthened acceptance and nullified people’s experiences of stigma and discrimination in domains like marriage, decision-making, access to property, treatment and care have been identified. The article highlights implications for social work practice and research.
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