Aim: The aim of this study was to describe how family members of a person suffering from mental illness experienced contact with formal psychiatric care.

Background: When coming in contact with formal psychiatric care families experience complications such as social isolation and stigmatisation. In order to co-operate with and support families adequately it is important to investigate how they experience their contact with formal psychiatric care.

Method: The study was based on a qualitative design. Focus groups were transcribed and interpreted using qualitative content analysis. 

Findings: The findings present four themes; disappointment in formal psychiatric care; the need for understanding from and collaboration with formal psychiatric care; feeling positive about the care provided and how they personally contribute to it; and being subjected to preconceived ideas. The findings were interpreted as showing the families’ relationship to formal psychiatric care as being characterised by a struggle for power.

Conclusion: In order to create a healthy situation for the families and consequently improve the situation for the patient, representatives of formal care must meticulously consider families’ involvement. Meetings between formal and informal care, with the objective of sharing knowledge and influence, are suggested as one way of resolving the situation.