The diversity in caregiver support could best be described by three prototypes: the tolerator, the preventer
and the concerner, representing three approaches of involvement with caregivers. At one end of the spectrum are
mental health nurses (MHN) who are essentially only concerned with the wellbeing of the care recipient and see
the caregiver as a potential impediment in reaching the client’s goals. We call these the tolerators. At the other end
of the spectrum are the MHNs who see the caregiver and the care recipient as inextricably connected with each
other. In these cases the MHN directs her/his intervention towards both the informal caregiver and the care
recipient. We call these the concerners. In the middle position are MHNs who realize that caregivers are important
agents in the achievement of the client’s goals, and therefore consider preventing them from becoming
overburdened as an important goal. We call these the preventers