Exploring experiences of informal carers of mental health: Developing community intervention in social work in Jordan

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to generate meaningful understanding of the mental health informal carers’ experience and to identify a possible approach to social work intervention. A mixed method of quantitative and qualitative analysis was used for data collection. The findings reveal that most of the informal carers are female adult. They experience stress, domestic violence, social exclusion as a result of the caring role, and fear of stigma. Cultural and religious factors must be considered when translating the caring role. The findings suggest implications for social work practice at a community level, utilizing a familial and support-group approach, with a practice that is sensitive to gender and religion.

The experiences of family caregivers of people with severe mental illness in the Middle East: A systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative data

“…“I am tired and I need help , I need someone to share the burden , why mental health is not important like physical illness , I am losing energy , sometimes I cannot breathe , I feel I am going crazy” [ 36 ] (p. 1050).…”

“…Physical burden such as lacking energy or experiencing pain affected the caregivers' ability to function. One family caregiver captured the physical impact of caregiving and expressed their needs for support to share the burden: "I am tired and I need help, I need someone to share the burden, why mental health is not important like physical illness, I am losing energy, sometimes I cannot breathe, I feel I am going crazy" [36] (p. 1050).…”

“…She reported: "I have husband; he causes me depression and the doctor told me that I have to have medicine to calm me down. I took sleeping pills to be able to sleep, too much that one can bear" [36] (p. 1048).…”

“…I feel relaxed already, we are not alone. We learn from each other" [36] (p. 1050). Some family caregivers sought information as a positive coping mechanism and at the same time it helps them to understand the illness and raise awareness: ".…”

Factors Associated with Distress in Caregivers of People with Personality Disorders

“…Caring for a loved one with a serious mental illness can involve managing disruptive symptoms, coordinating care, and assisting with medication, among other functions (Bradford & Palmer, 2016;Ohaeri, 2003). Thus, caregivers of people with mental illness may provide assistance with instrumental tasks, as well as emotional and spiritual support (AlMakhamreh, 2017). Informal caregivers have been recognized as primary supporters of mental health care after the deinstitutionalization movement of the nineteenth century, despite indications that many caregivers are highly burdened (Reinhard, 1994).…”