Seventy-three community mental health professionals described their contact with family members of people with psychiatric disabilities. Survey questions asked about contact frequency, patterns of contact, and barriers to contact with families. A multiple regression model analyzed facilitators of increased family contact. Professionals reported a median of 2 family contact hours per week. Professionals who served children reported more family contact. Family members most often initiated telephone contact, especially parents, spouses, and siblings. Most frequent activities included listening, accessing information, and helping with resources and coping. Formal family-inclusive interventions were infrequent. Time was the most frequently reported barrier. Serving children and increased consumer contact predicted increased family contact time. Recommendations are offered for family-inclusive mental health practice.
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