Care Giving of People with Severe Mental Illness: An Indian Experience

Abstract

Background:Caring is a fundamental issue in the rehabilitation of a person with mental illness and more so for people with severe mental illness. The lack of adequate manpower resources in the country is adding and enlisting the responsibility of providing care on the families to provide physical, medical, social and psychological care for their severely unwell mentally ill people.Aim of the Study:To examine the load of caregiving with reference to the types of care during the symptomatic and remission phases of severe mental illness and the various ways in which caregivers adapt their lives to meet the needs of people with severe mental illness.Materials and Methods:The present research draws its data from the 200 families with mental illness in Andra Pradesh and Karnataka in India. The data presented in the study was collected from interviews using an interview schedule with open-ended questions.Results:The study diffuses the notion of ‘care’ as ‘physical’, ‘medical, ‘psychological’ and ‘social’ care. The present article focuses on the caregiving roles of the caregivers of people with schizophrenia, affective disorders and psychosis not otherwise specified (NOS) and found that the caregiving does not differ much between the different diagnosis, but caregiving roles changes from active involvement in physical and medical care to more of social and psychological care during the remission.Conclusion:The study records the incredulous gratitude of caregivers at being acknowledged for the work they do. In that regard, the study itself provides a boost to the morale of tired, unacknowledged caregivers.

Perception of physical health by patients with severe mental illness and their family caregivers: A qualitative study

“…23 Caregivers play an important role in preserving and maintaining the physical health of individuals with severe mental illness. 25 In the present study, caregivers wanted to support their patients in maintaining and improving their physical healthcare. However, the that focuses on preventive medicine and promoting better healthcare practices is needed.…”

Karakteristik Keluarga ODGJ dan Kepesertaan JKN Hubungannya dengan Tindakan Pencarian Pengobatan bagi ODGJ

“…ODGJ yang mempunyai hubungan kekerabatan dari keluarga ODGJ sebagai ayah dan sebagai ibu mempunyai tindakan sesuai, hal ini karena seorang anak akan berupaya memberikan yang terbaik untuk kesembuhan orang tuanya. Keluarga akan merasa bersalah jika sebagai orang terdekat tidak berusaha mengobatkan ODGJ (Janardhana, N., Raghunandan, S., Naidu, D.M., Saraswathi, L., dan Seshan, V.,2015).…”

“…Informasi mengenai gangguan jiwa hanya didapatkan dari tetangga ataupun orang-orang terdekat dari keluarga ODGJ. Hal tersebut didukung oleh penelitian sebelumnya yaitu walaupun seseorang mempunyai hubungan kekerabatan yang dekat, namun seseorang tersebut minim dalam pengetahuannya, maka dia akan melakukan tindakan yang tidak sesuai (Janardhana, N., Raghunandan, S., Naidu, D.M., Saraswathi, L., dan Seshan, V. 2015.…”

“…Keluarga ODGJ dengan tipe keluarga besar seringkali masih memikirkan terkait biaya yang harus dikeluarkan untuk pengobatan ODGJ karena keluarga ODGJ merasa kebutuhan yang ditanggung dalam satu keluarga tidak hanya untuk satu orang. Seseorang yang mempunyai tipe keluarga besar akan mudah dalam penyembuhannya, karena dalam proses pengobatannya ODGJ akan banyak dibantu oleh keluarga yang lainnya (Janardhana, N., Raghunandan, S., Naidu, D.M., Saraswathi, L., dan Seshan, V.,2015). Namun walaupun demikian seseorang yang mempunyai tipe keluarga inti seringkali tidak melakukan tindakan yang sesuai, dikarenakan pengetahuan yang kurang dan masalah biaya yang dihadapi.…”

Psychometric Properties and Correlates of the Beck Hopelessness Scale in Family Caregivers of Nigerian Patients with Psychiatric Disorders in Southwestern Nigeria

“…[8] In developing countries, such as Nigeria, family caregivers have a central role in the societal reintegration of their relatives affected with severe mental disorders, which is mainly due to the dearth of professionals that are required for their rehabilitation. [9] Studies have also demonstrated that the overwhelming burden arising from providing care for a family member with severe mental disorder can adversely affect the caregivers’ psychological well-being. [1011] About a quarter of family caregivers of patients with chronic mental disorders either resident or not with their relative fulfill the criteria for possible cases of psychiatric disorders according to the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ).…”