Abstract
Background Promoting mental health and care in the community setting leads to the recovery of patients with mental illness. Although recovery in mental health is a complex phenomenon, caregivers and community members have important roles to play in the recovery process for patients with mental illness. Little is documented on how recovery is promoted in the community setting. This study explored the experience of patients, caregivers, and community members on how recovery can be realized in a patient with severe mental illness in Dar es Salaam. Methods We conducted four focus group discussions (FGDs): two with caregivers and the other two with community members. Also, six in-depth interviews were held with patients with mental illness. Participants were purposively selected based on the type of information needed. Both FGD and in-depth interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze data. Findings. Four themes emerged from this study, which include promoting patients' participation in household activities, improving patients' support system, promoting patients' self-care management, and providing safety and protection among patients with mental illness. However, financial, psychological, and establishing care and support centers and professional supports emerged as subthemes from patients' support system. Conclusion Caregivers and community members are significant stakeholders for promoting recovery for people with mental illness. The current study reveals that patients' involvement in home activities, promoting self-care management, improving patients' support systems, and providing safety and protection are important factors that promote recovery for people with mental illness. Advocating mental health awareness for caregivers and community members will bridge the gap to enhance the recovery for people with mental illness. Further research is needed in this area to explore the health care providers' perspectives on the recovery process of mental illness in the hospital setting.
Highlights
Mental illness causes tremendous morbidity, mortality, and impairment
It is estimated that mental illness and other psychological disorders account for about 10% of the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) [1]
The current study explored the views and experiences of patients, caregivers, and the community members on the recovery process of a person with severe mental illness cared at home in Dar es Salaam
Summary
Mental illness causes tremendous morbidity, mortality, and impairment. It is estimated that mental illness and other psychological disorders account for about 10% of the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) [1]. The first contact with mental health care providers begins to happen mainly at the district level where professional support is provided to facilitate recovery [7]. Promoting mental health and care in the community setting leads to the recovery of patients with mental illness. Four themes emerged from this study, which include promoting patients’ participation in household activities, improving patients’ support system, promoting patients’ self-care management, and providing safety and protection among patients with mental illness. The current study reveals that patients’ involvement in home activities, promoting self-care management, improving patients’ support systems, and providing safety and protection are important factors that promote recovery for people with mental illness. Advocating mental health awareness for caregivers and community members will bridge the gap to enhance the recovery for people with mental illness. Further research is needed in this area to explore the health care providers’ perspectives on the recovery process of mental illness in the hospital setting
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