Whos life am I living? Relatives Living in the Shadow of Depression
- Författare
- Stjernswärd, Sigrid & Östman, Margareta
- Titel
- Whos life am I living? Relatives Living in the Shadow of Depression
- Utgivningsår
- 2008
- Tidskrift
- International Journal of Social Psychiatry
- Volym
- 54
- Häfte
- 4
- Sidor
- 358-369
- Sammanfattning
BACKGROUND:
Families living with mental illness experience added burden and need information and support.
AIM:
This aim of this study was to explore the experiences of families living close to a depressed individual.
METHODS:
Eighteen persons were interviewed individually or in focus groups. Data was analysed using a grounded theory-inspired methodology.
RESULTS:
Most participants expressed a feeling of not living their own life, struggling to balance relationships, adapting to and re-evaluating their life circumstances, and struggling to voice their ill relatives' and their own needs.
CONCLUSIONS:
More can be done to help and sustain hope in the relatives of persons with depression.