Care: Giving, Receiving and Meaning in the Context of Mental Illness

Abstract

Understanding the dynamics of caregiving is essential to providing effective support to individuals and families living with serious mental illnesses. Yet, research in this area has typically explored caregiving without consulting mentally ill people. This paper adds this overlooked viewpoint by exploring the experience of care relationships by people diagnosed with schizophrenia. A secondary analysis of interview data from 21 individuals reveals that relevant dimensions of care relationships include: providers of care; types of care received; self-care; contested practices in care; negotiating practices; recipients of care; and types of care provided to other people. Addressing care within this broader conceptualization can contribute to developing interventions for individuals and families that more fully recognize the potential for people with mental illnesses to be active participants in care relationships.

The Occupation of Pet Ownership as an Enabler of Community Integration in Serious Mental Illness: A Single Exploratory Case Study

“…The case study demonstrates that pet ownership encompasses a sense of family belonging through giving care and love to the pet and that this may help persons with a mental health disability to move beyond the perception that their interactions with others are one-sided (Williams & Mfoafo-M'Carthy, 2006). Over the last few years, there has been a steady trend in acknowledging pets as part of the family network (Allen et al, 2000;Beck & Katcher, 1996;Bonas, McNicholas, & Collis, 2000;Fine, 2000;Hammell, 2004;Phillips Cohen, 2002;Turner, 2001).…”

Attitudes and Perceived Barriers to Working with Families of Persons with Severe Mental Illness: Mental Health Professionals’ Perspectives

“…Developing clear policy guidelines and a specific form for release of information to share treatment information can facilitate family involvement and partnership (Bogart and Solomon 1999). Helping families get educated about mental illness and learn more effective ways to communicate with their relatives will improve relationships between family members and clients, which will influence their interest in family involvement (Williams and Mfoafo-M'Carthy 2006). Also having ongoing dialogue with clients about family involvement can change their attitudes and willingness to include their family in the treatment process (Marshall and Solomon 2000).…”

The coping experiences of carers who live with someone who has schizophrenia

“…2003). Understanding the dynamics of caregiving is essential to providing effective support to individuals and families living with serious mental illness (Williams & Mfoafo‐M'Carthy 2006). Joyce et al.…”