Experiences, Knowledge and Perceptions of Family Caregivers of Individuals with Mental Illness: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis

Ghedaa Jassim  Mohammed; Abbas Lateef  Muhe-Aldeen

doi:10.36321/kjns.vi20261.24089

Authors

Ghedaa Jassim Mohammed Department of Nursing, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq.
Abbas Lateef Muhe-Aldeen College of Dentistry, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk. Iraq. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9522-1591

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36321/kjns.vi20261.24089

Keywords:

experiences; family caregivers; mental illness, Knowledge, Perceptions

Abstract

Background: Family caregivers are key players in the provision of support to mentally ill patients, especially in low-resource and community-based care facilities.

Aim: The objective of the proposed study was to investigate the experiences of family caregivers concerning persons with mental illness and their knowledge and perceptions of the caregiving role.

Methods: The qualitative descriptive design was adopted in the form of the six phases in the thematic analysis framework by Braun and Clarke. A total of 20 family caregivers of the outpatient psychiatric clinics of Azadi Teaching Hospital were recruited using purposive sampling. The data were gathered using semi-structured face-to-face interviews in Arabic, audio-taped, transcribed in their verbatim, and English translations. The collection of data was done until saturation was reached.

Results: There were six high-level themes, including caregiver duties and stress, emotional and psychological impact, role transformation and altered family relationships, coping strategies and lack of support, knowledge and misconceptions, and resiliency and new outlook. Caregivers reported they spent many hours a day supervising, the person didn't take medication, risked their safety, became emotionally exhausted, placed financial burdens on the family and felt stigmatized . Poor mental health literacy and cultural models of explanation were affecting behaviors of seeking help and management of crisis.

Conclusion: Mental illness family care is a multidimensional and transforming experience that may be associated with a high burden and considerable resilience. It is critical to enhance family-focused psychoeducation, diminish stigma, increase access to services and enhance culturally competent support systems .

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Abbas Lateef Muhe-Aldeen, College of Dentistry, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk. Iraq.

Assistant Professor, Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing

References

Abolfotouh, M. A., Almutairi, A. F., Almutairi, Z., et al. (2019). Attitudes toward mental illness and help-seeking. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 12, 45–54.

Alyafei, A. H., Alqunaibet, T., Mansour, H., Ali, A., & Billings, J. (2021). The experiences of family caregivers of people with severe mental illness in the Middle East: A systematic review. PLoS ONE, 16(7), e0254351. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0254351

Carswell, C., Brown, J. V. E., Shiers, D., et al. (2024). Lived experience of caregivers of people with severe mental illness. Health Expectations, 27(3), e14119. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.14119.

Cham, C. Q., Ibrahim, N., Siau, C. S., et al. (2022). Caregiver burden: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Healthcare, 10(12), 2423. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10122423.

Davies, J. (2024). Factors influencing stigma against mental disorders: A review. Scientific Psychiatry, 5(1), 476–479.

Evans, L., Chang, A., Dehon, J., et al. (2024). Mental illness stigma and help-seeking attitudes. Current Psychology, 43(2), 1806–1815.

Goda, A. M. I., Abd Elhamid, S. A., & Wassif, G. O. (2025). Mental health literacy: A comparative study on stigmatizing attitude and help-seeking behavior towards mental disorders between adolescents and adults. Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association, 100(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42506-025-00184-0.

Kishore, J., Gupta, A., Jiloha, R., & Bantman, P. (2011). Myths and beliefs about mental disorders. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 53(4), 324–326. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.91906.

Laranjeira, C. A., et al. (2023). Therapeutic adherence in mental disorders: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(6), 4892. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20064892.

Munie, B. M., Birhan, Z., Legas, G., et al. (2024). Predictors of depression among caregivers. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15, 1422104. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1422104.

Ntsayagae, E. I., Poggenpoel, M., & Myburgh, C. (2019). Experiences of family caregivers of persons living with mental illness: A meta-synthesis. Curationis, 42(1), e1–e9.

Perlick, D. A., Berk, L., Kaczynski, R., et al. (2016). Caregiver burden and depression in bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disorders, 18(2), 183–191. https://doi.org/10.1111/bdi.12379.

Sharif, L., Basri, S., Alsahafi, F., et al. (2020). Family caregiver burden and coping in mental illness: A qualitative study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(17), 6405. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176405.

Simões, L. P., Souto, T., Silva, F., & Ferreira, M. J. (2024). Coping and positivity in caregivers. Geriatric Nursing, 59, 604–613. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2024.06.019.

Wang, Y. Z., Meng, X. D., Zhang, T. M., et al. (2023). Affiliate stigma among caregivers. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 69(4), 1024–1032. https://doi.org/10.1177/00207640221127638.

Wildman, E. K., MacManus, D., Harvey, J., et al. (2023). Violence in severe mental illness and impact on caregivers. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 147(2), 155–174. https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.13545.

World Health Organization. (2024). Mental health services and caregiver support. World Health Organization.