Family responsibilities on the care of their relatives suffering mental illnesses have passed through deep changes on the last years. The present study investigated the modifications of daily lives of relatives of people who lived long stay admission in psychiatric hospitals and the meanings implicated on this process. The content of semi-structured interviews carried along with five relatives was submitted to thematic analysis and interpreted in socio-historical perspective. Amongst other issues, it was possible to notice that: (1) "healing" conception is related to the recovery of productive abilities, restricted as long as the symptoms arise; (2) informal resources are complementary, specially when public resources are not enough or satisfactory; (3) religious issues are present in a metaphysical understanding of mental suffering; (4) the church and its representatives consist on a support group for the person and his/her family; and (5) adequate programs regarding family support in mental health open services are not enough.
mental health; family; psychosocial rehabilitation; social-historical psychology
