Conception of family members of people with mental disorders on self-help groups

Abstract

The aim of this study was to understand how family members of people with mental disorders conceive the performance of self-help groups (SG). This qualitative study was conducted with eleven family members who participate in a SG of the Maringaense Mental Health Association. Data were collected from April to June 2010 during group meetings, in an adjoining room, by means of semi-structured interviews, which were then subjected to content analysis. Two categories emerged: "The group compensates for deficiencies in care", which points out deficiencies arising from the formal care services and the benefits of SG for family members and, "Idealized care", which reveals the expectations of the family in relation to mental health care. It was concluded that family members would like activities of the SG to be incorporated by mental health care services and for family care to become a part of the care plan.

Evaluation of families of crack users in relation to support groups

“…Over time, through the therapeutic bond, they start adhering more easily to the therapeutic activities proposed. This adhesion allows and promotes intersubjective exchanges, inclusion, self-perception, self-knowledge and expressions of affection, becoming a vehicle for the processing of information (9)(10) . In addition, these spaces provide relief for distress and clarification of doubts, thus facilitating conviviality at the home environment and reaffirming the affective bonds between user and family.…”

Familiares De Pessoas Com Esquizofrenia: Sentimentos E Atitudes Frente Ao Comportamento Agressivo

“…They want them to provide orientations about how to cope with the patient and, if these are not provided, at least indications on where to obtain this information. As they do not find the support they want and need at the health service, these families turned to the self-help group (6) .…”

“…The existence of environments to discuss the care delivered to the family member suffering from a mental disorder and the family's daily life reawakens the hope that the patient's autonomy will improve and that the family burden will decrease (6) . The satisfaction with the mental health service, in addition, influences the stress level of psychiatric patients' caregivers.…”

“…Coping with problematic behaviors that involve verbal and physical aggressiveness, agitation, "nervous crises" and the destruction of objects is a frequent challenge for the relatives of mental patients (5) . In that sense, it is important for the health service to intervene, promote activities that grant the family further knowledge on the disease and provide orientations on how to manage behaviors and care (6) . In addition, the family suffering needs to be understood to mitigate the burden and offer opportunities for them to share doubts and anguish (7) .…”

<b> Rede de apoio social e família: convivendo com um familiar usuário de drogas/ Social support network and family: living with a family member who is a drug user <b>

“…Para a família, que é o alicerce fundamental das relações humanas, o fato de ter em seu núcleo um membro usuário de drogas, ocasiona para ambos uma experiência crítica, que marca profundamente as suas vidas (12) . Diante da imprevisibilidade do comportamento do usuário que está sob efeito de drogas, a família passa a conviver com insegurança e sofre por não compreender os problemas ocasionados pelo uso dessas substâncias, tendo como consequência dificuldades no relacionamento familiar e na reabilitação do usuário.…”