Impact of Caring for Mentally Ill Patient on Caregivers

Abstract

Mentally ill person needs caretakers during hospitalization for severe conditions, continuing care, and rehabilitation. Caretakers experience mental illness when providing care for their mentally ill patients in Nepal. About 24.5% of caretakers had anxiety and 19.6% had depression. The financial, social, and psychological health of caregivers may all impact. The objective was to examine the psychological, financial and social impact on caregivers. A descriptive study was conducted on 207 caregivers’ of mentally ill patients at mental hospital, Nepal. Purposive sampling technique was used. Semi-structured questionnaires were developed to assess psychological and financial impacts and Likert scale questions were included to assess social impact. Information was gathered using a structured face-to-face interview. Impacts on caregivers’ psychological, economic and social were associated to their sociodemographic characteristics. Education, religion, and the patient's length of mental illness were all associated with psychological impact (χ2=54.37; df=5; p= <0.001). Education and the duration of their mental illness are also related to the financial impact (χ2=31.95; df=7; p= <0.001). The social impact experienced by caregivers is similarly associated with education, occupation, and the length of mental illness (χ2=61.03; df=5; p= <0.001). The association between caregivers' sociodemographic factors and the psychological, financial, and social impacts on them was observed. This justifies encouraging caregivers to be a part of the support group in order to increase the information and emotional support they get from other caregivers who have similar experiences. Keywords: Impact, psychological, financial, social, mentally ill patient, caregiver