Study participants were: the caregivers of the patients admitted to the Republican Clinical Psychiatric Hospital, suffering from schizophrenia, affective disorders and the control group (participants from mentally healthy families).

The inclusion criteria were: 1) living with the patient in the same house; 2) age > 18 years; 3) absence of somatic and psychiatric pathology; 4) informed consent.

We used the following assessment instruments: the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form36 (SF-36) survey; Family Experiences with the Stigma of Mental Illness Questionnaire by H.Stuart; the Coping Strategies Questionnaire by E.Heim; the Questionnaire of Family Burden according to the WHO «Quality Assurance in Mental Health Care».

The obtained results show that relatives of mentally ill patients suffer from negative consequences of stigma and discrimination. They have the burden in economic, psychological, social environment, family interaction areas. Relatives feel social isolation, shame, guilt, worry and distress.

One of the causes of such tragic consequences of stigma is the lack of specific information about mental illnesses and choice of inadequate coping strategies. We apply psychoeducational project in the families of patients with schizophrenia to reduce negative influence on their lives.