Abstract
Family members’ experiences of having a relative admitted as a State patient are unknown. Attention is typically focused on the relatives’ healing and rehabilitation, while less attention is given to their family members’ emotional state. Family members seldom receive any support or information. Therefore, the researcher decided to conduct a study to explore and describe the experiences of family members who have a relative admitted as a State patient in a psychiatric hospital in Gauteng. The researcher then recommended ways to facilitate the mental health of State patients’ family members in future. The researcher wanted to gain a better understanding and insight into family members’ experiences and identify ways to facilitate their mental health. The research study aimed to explore and describe the experiences of family members who have a relative admitted as a State patient in a psychiatric hospital in Gauteng Province. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design with a phenomenological approach was used. Data were collected through in-depth phenomenological interviews. Seven interviews were conducted, and participants were all asked the main question, “How does it feel to have a relative admitted as a State patient?”. Tesch’s method of coding was used to analyse data along with an independent coder. To ensure participants’ rights were adhered to, the researcher abided by ethical principles and measures to promote the trustworthiness and quality of the collected data. The findings that were attained through interviewing family members reflected they experienced negative affections before they could develop compassion and a need to help their relatives. Participants also faced several barriers within the system before getting help for their relatives. Family members ultimately developed strategies to cope and believed their relatives would receive the help they needed. The researcher developed specific and general recommendations to facilitate the mental health of State patients’ family members in future. Specific recommendations included the establishment of mobilising resources, self-empowerment, individual vi psychotherapy, the use of effective coping strategies, and mental health awareness campaigns.
M.Cur. (Nursing Science)