In the landscape of mental health care, the experiences and voices of the families of patients often remain overshadowed by clinical narratives centered solely on the patients and healthcare professionals. The cultural shift toward inclusion, collaboration, and relational care illuminated by this German study is not just timely; it is imperative. Subject of Research: Experiences of next of kin in their interactions with the psychiatric health care system in Germany. Article Title: “As if we didn’t exist” – A participatory reflexive thematic analysis on next of kins’ experiences of their interactions with the psychiatric health care system in Germany. “As if we didn’t exist” – A participatory reflexive thematic analysis on next of kins’ experiences of their interactions with the psychiatric health care system in Germany.