Abstract
Background: Mental illness is a serious condition affecting the diagnosed individual and all
family members. Family members caring for a sibling with mental illness encounter severe
challenges, which, if unresolved, becomes a burden they carry for the rest of their lives.
Objectives: The purpose of the study was to describe family members’ experiences caring for
a sibling with mental illness in Giyani.
Method: A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design was used.
Eight family members caring for a sibling with mental illness were purposively sampled. Data
were collected through in-depth phenomenological interviews, and data were analysed using
thematic coding, and an external coder was consulted.
Results: The study’s findings revealed that family members caring for a sibling with mental
illness experienced significant challenges. The three themes that emerged after data analysis
were the following: caring for a sibling with mental illness was an overwhelming experience;
family members experience emotional instability as a result of caring for their sibling with
mental illness and family members need support in caring for their sibling with mental illness.
Conclusion: The findings indicated that family members need support in caring for a sibling
with mental illness. Family members would cope better with support from extended family,
healthcare professionals in mental health and the community; this will reduce the burden of
caring for a sibling with mental for family members. Furthermore, the availability of resources
can assist in facilitating family members’ mental health.