Psychosocial impacts of caring for patients with mental illness on families at Temeke municipality, Dar es salaam Tanzania

Abstract

Introduction: Mental illness is the condition affecting more than 450 million people worldwide. People with mental disorders often cause distress among their family members and mostly are overwhelmed by the patients' symptoms. Many studies in developed countries have focused on burden encountered by family members with small attention to psychosocial impacts and coping skills when caring the patient, and few of these studies have been done in developing countries. It is expected that this burden is more severe in low-income countries as it aggravated by poverty consequently families suffer psychologically and socially due to living with or caring for their relative or family member afflicted by mental illness. This study explored the psychosocial impacts of family caring a mentally ill patient and the way they coped with caring situation. Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the psychosocial impacts and coping strategies of mental illness on the family members caring a person with psychiatric disorders in Temeke Municipality, Dar es Salaam. Method: The study was a descriptive qualitative study where purposive sampling procedure was used to emol 14 participants and data was collected by focused group discussion and in- depth interviews. Ethical clearance was granted from MUHAS Ethical Committee. Data analysis was done by content analysis whereby seven different themes emerged Results: Seven main themes emerged from this study: Financial constraints, disruption of family functioning, problems in managing patient's symptom, lack of social support, conflicts with neighbours, stigma and discrimination and coping and adaptation. These findings revealed social and psychological problems incurred by families caring patients with mental illness in Temeke municipal council and thereby has suggested several interventions. Conclusion: Family caring for person with mental illness has its advantages, yet it has multiple social and psychological problems and challenges for both family carers and the mental health professionals. This study has attempted to explore psychosocial problems in family caring patient with mental illness. The findings offer a direction for family intervention that acknowledges the need of both the carers and their mentally ill relatives.