Information needs, care difficulties, and coping strategies in families of people with mental illness

OBJECTIVE: To determine information needs, care difficulties, and coping mechanisms of family members of people with mental illness. METHODS: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, the study sample consisted of the families of 134 patients who were treated in the Psychiatric Unit of Cumhuriyet University Training and Research Hospital in Sivas, Turkey between January and May 2011. Data was collected by a questionnaire and analysed descriptively, and by chi-square testing. RESULTS: It was determined that 79.1% of family members were knowledgeable of the patients’ illness. It was found that they experienced difficulties in communicating with the patient, and in ensuring drug compliance and anger management and that they used psychological and social coping strategies. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that access to medical information on its own is not sufficient for carers of people with mental illness, and the necessity of developing positive attitudes when dealing with the illness and its symptoms. We recommend that nurses and other health professionals offer long term support and consultation programs to family members.