ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with some basic conceptual issues and considers research on how mental illness is portrayed in the media and how it affects communication in interpersonal relationships. It briefly reviews some of the research on peer-led and Internet-based interventions for treating mental illness. Even if the authors have firsthand experience with symptoms of mental illness, research shapes their understanding of the symptoms by giving us language for diagnosis and explanation. Their understanding of mental illness and communication in relationships can benefit from using a relational theoretical lens. As they look at the impact of mental illness on communication in family relationships, they must do more to consider the impact on siblings. They wanted the readers to develop an understanding of how mental illness is depicted in the media, how mental disorders can affect communication in relationships, and how mental disorders can be treated through interventions and counseling.
