His family knew and probably did nothing to help him turn his life around. Because it wasn’t their personal problem or responsibility. But more than happy to claim victim status when someone else had to take care of him.
Indeed, sad to say.
Having a mentally ill person in your family, much like a drug addict or alcoholic, can be an unsolvable problem.
If they don’t want help and don’t follow thru w/ treatment options, sometimes you just have to cut them off. It doesn’t mean they’re terrible people or you don’t care for them.