D Krupchanka1,2, N Kruk3, J Murray4, S Davey4, N Bezborodovs5, P Winkler6,4, L Bukelskis7, N Sartorius8. 1. Department of Social Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic. dmitry.krupchenko@gmail.com. 2. Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK. dmitry.krupchenko@gmail.com. 3. Department of Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Grodno State Medical University, Grodno, Belarus. 4. Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK. 5. Children's Clinical University Hospital, Riga, Latvia. 6. Department of Social Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic. 7. Faculty of Medicine, Clinic of Psychiatry, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania. 8. Association for the Improvement of Mental Health Programmes, Geneva, Switzerland.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Family stigma constitutes a major problem in schizophrenia worldwide. Data on first-hand experience of stigma in families is necessary for planning and implementing interventions to reduce its burden. The aim of the study was to investigate the experience of stigma among relatives of persons with schizophrenia in Belarus. METHODS: Qualitative research methods, such as the thematic analysis of in-depth semi-structured interviews with 20 relatives of people diagnosed with schizophrenia, were used. Experience of discrimination, strategies used to cope with it, and requests for interventions were investigated. RESULTS: The most salient themes in experience of stigma in the private domain of life elicited in the narratives included anticipated stigma and dissolution of families. The experience of stigma was associated with burdensome feelings of guilt, tiredness and loneliness, together with fear and anxiety due to uncertainty in the future and sorrow because of frustrated hopes in past. Analysis of the strategies used to overcome the difficulties revealed concealment and "life behind closed doors", avoidance of the rest of the family, taking full responsibility and sacrificing one's personal life. CONCLUSION: To reduce the burden of stigma in the private life of the family members of people living with schizophrenia in Belarus, important steps should be taken to promote the empowerment of families including: reforming mental health services; provision of better access to information; family support services, community care; development of family organisations; assistance in communication, re-socialisation and independent living for people diagnosed with schizophrenia.
PURPOSE: Family stigma constitutes a major problem in schizophrenia worldwide. Data on first-hand experience of stigma in families is necessary for planning and implementing interventions to reduce its burden. The aim of the study was to investigate the experience of stigma among relatives of persons with schizophrenia in Belarus. METHODS: Qualitative research methods, such as the thematic analysis of in-depth semi-structured interviews with 20 relatives of people diagnosed with schizophrenia, were used. Experience of discrimination, strategies used to cope with it, and requests for interventions were investigated. RESULTS: The most salient themes in experience of stigma in the private domain of life elicited in the narratives included anticipated stigma and dissolution of families. The experience of stigma was associated with burdensome feelings of guilt, tiredness and loneliness, together with fear and anxiety due to uncertainty in the future and sorrow because of frustrated hopes in past. Analysis of the strategies used to overcome the difficulties revealed concealment and "life behind closed doors", avoidance of the rest of the family, taking full responsibility and sacrificing one's personal life. CONCLUSION: To reduce the burden of stigma in the private life of the family members of people living with schizophrenia in Belarus, important steps should be taken to promote the empowerment of families including: reforming mental health services; provision of better access to information; family support services, community care; development of family organisations; assistance in communication, re-socialisation and independent living for people diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Entities:
Keywords:
Courtesy stigma; Family studies; Qualitative approach
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