Lived experiences, mental wellbeing, and coping mechanisms of parents of persons living with schizophrenia in Kampala

Abstract

The researcher aimed at exploring the Lived Experiences, Mental wellbeing and Coping Mechanisms of parents of Persons living with Schizophrenia in Kampala. The research was a descriptive qualitative design and this enabled the researcher to describe the lived experiences, mental wellbeing and coping mechanisms of parents of persons living with schizophrenia in Kampala district. A sample of 10 respondents was used with an inclusion criterion well defined as (1) parent to a person diagnosed with schizophrenia and (2) a parent had been with the person since the onset of the illness; The data collection and analysis was done using semi-structured interviews and transcription of audio files was embarked on, this was followed by thematic analysis with support from Atlas.ti version 23. The themes that emerged include but no limited to Emotional and physical distress; Feeling hurt and/or bad; Feeling depressed; Physical Symptoms; Negative treatment by the family members and close relations; Experience with the community following the diagnosis; Spiritual/religious coping (Praying); Support from friends and neighbors; Acceptance, toughening up and realizing that others have faced that too; Psycho-education /counseling offered by mental health specialists; Thinking a lot; Marital strain and family friction; Physical Symptoms and lastly Constant worry about the present and the future portrayed. In conclusion, parents of persons living with schizophrenia experience a change in their mental wellbeing. Hence mental health service providers should ensure to provide therapy to them as well. This will improve their coping mechanisms hence better mental wellbeing.