Treatment under the traditional medical model has largely ignored the family's knowledge, expertise and potential therapeutic effects on hospitalized mentally ill people. This paper reviews the family's role as caregiver. It reports on an evaluation of services by caregivers. Its findings reflect views stated in other surveys in identifying the need for improvement in education and social support for families, greater family involvement in the patient's care and improvement in staff attitudes towards families. The study concludes by describing the development of a family support project in a Nursing Practice Development Unit in a secure ward and offers a blueprint for mental health nurses in facilitating the more active involvement of families in the recovery of their family members.