Abstract
BackgroundFamilies of the mental health care users (MHCUs) face different challenges in dealing with, supporting and caring for MHCUs on a daily basis. The divergent coping mechanisms that the family members use aim to lower the negative, psychological and emotional impact of the stress. These include: escape, avoidance and denial.AimTo explore, describe and contextualise coping mechanisms used by the families of MHCUs and to suggest recommendations for improving their coping mechanisms in Mahikeng sub-district, North West province (NWP), South Africa.SettingThe study was conducted in three community health centres in Mahikeng sub-district, NWP, South Africa.MethodsA qualitative-exploratory-descriptive and contextual research design was used. Non-probability convenience and purposive sampling techniques were used to select participants. WhatsApp video calls were used to collect data which were analysed following Creswell’s six steps of qualitative data analysis.ResultsThe study established three themes namely; challenges experienced by the family members, coping mechanism used by the family members, and suggestions for improvement in the coping mechanisms for the family members.ConclusionThe findings of this study show that the family members of MHCUs are faced with different challenges. Some of the coping mechanisms used by the family members are insufficient and require improvement to enable them to cope effectively. When the coping mechanisms of the family members of MHCUs are improved, their well-being and that of the MHCUs might improve significantly.ContributionThe findings of this study provides information that may be used to improve the coping mechanisms of the families of MHCUs in the NWP, South Africa.
Highlights
Mental disorders affect both the mental health care users (MHCUs) and their family members (Tristiana et al 2018:1)
Theme 1: Challenges experienced by family members Six sub-themes emerged from the challenges experienced by family members of MHCUs: difficult, uncooperative behaviour by MHCUS, MHCU substance use, defaulting treatment stigma because of mental illness, negative attitude from the nursing staff, insufficient income to care for MHCUs
It becomes increasingly difficult for family members to deal with or manage MHCUs when they are under the influence of substances (Blanco et al 2016:389)
Summary
Mental disorders affect both the mental health care users (MHCUs) and their family members (Tristiana et al 2018:1). In a study that was conducted in Columbia, Hartney and Barnard (2015:355) argue that long term continuous care giving leads to significant stress often referred to as the ‘family burden’ or the ‘care-giving burden’ Mental health problems such as schizophrenia, mood or substance use disorders exert a toll on the families of the MHCUs who are negatively affected both economically as well as emotionally. The divergent coping mechanisms that the family members use aim to lower the negative, psychological and emotional impact of the stress.
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