Introduction: This article has been conducted to investigate the relationship of family burden with family function in mentally ill’s caregivers.

  Method: This is a cross sectional-analytic study. Respondents are 118 caregivers of people with mental illness selected by systematic random sampling method. To collect data, family assessment device questionnaire (FAD), the Family Burden Interview Schedule (FBI), and a demographic information check-list are used. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Spearman correlation coefficient, Kruskal-Wallis and U-Mann-Whitney tests are applied to analyze data.

  Findings: The findings have shown a positive and statistically significant correlation between family burden and general family dysfunction (P<0/05). The same relationship was found between family burden and problem solving and emotional response (P<0/05). Also family burden has positive association with length of time caregivers spent with the patient, family income, and being or not being under governmental organizations’ protection (P<0/05)

  Discussion: It seems rational to conclude that make plans to reduce family burden of caregivers of people with mental illness could indirectly improve their family’s function and consequently promote their health.