Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of reintegration into the community of mental health care users in the Libode district. Methodology: A phenomenological approach was used in this study to explore the lived experiences of reintegration into the community of mental health care users. It describes the feelings experienced by mental health care users concerning their reintegration into the community, and explores barriers to their reintegration into the community. The study was conducted in the Libode mental health clinic in the Libode district. A total of six participants volunteered to participate in the study. The interviews were audio-taped then transcribed. The data were manually analysed using Tesch’s approach of phenomenological analysis. Findings: The results of the study revealed that the participants were not living independent lives following their discharge from the mental health institution. The evidence suggests that the environment is not conducive to meeting the needs of mental health care users. They lack support from families and communities which impacted on them negatively, contributing to the high relapse and readmission rate. This study explores the barriers to their reintegration into the community such as the following: poor medication compliance, lack of vocational skills, unemployment, substance abuse, stigma and discrimination which were the main barriers to their reintegration into the community. The study consequently makes recommendations for practice and policy which can contribute to an improved quality of service delivery. / Thesis (M.N.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

The purpose of this study was to explore the role of family members in support of their relatives who are mentally ill and to develop guidelines for the support of mentally ill relatives by their families in a rural community. The research design was qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual. The research population consisted of families of mentally ill relatives collecting their monthly medications at the Jane Furse Gateway Clinic. Purposive sampling was used to draw the sample. Data was collected by individual in-depth semi-structured interviews that were tape-recorded. The study revealed that families provide physical, psychosocial, financial and developmental support to their relatives. Furthermore, families are faced with frustrations when providing support to their mentally ill relatives / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

This study was undertaken to identify the biographical characteristics, attitudes and perceptions of informal family care-givers caring for patients with mental illness in Dennilton. Data were gathered from 48 care-givers by using a cross-sectional survey approach in which structured questionnaires were completed. The results revealed that a sizeable proportion of the care-givers were 60 years and older. Only 10% were employed and a quarter married, suggesting that the care burden influenced their life choices. Many care-givers were mothers or female family members. Half of the patients cared for suffered from depression. Violent, aggressive behaviour was reported as a symptom that care-givers found difficult to deal with. Less than half of the care-givers reported that the patients accepted their health situation. / Sociology / M.A. Soc.

The purpose of this study was to explore the role of family members in support of their relatives who are mentally ill and to develop guidelines for the support of mentally ill relatives by their families in a rural community. The research design was qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual. The research population consisted of families of mentally ill relatives collecting their monthly medications at the Jane Furse Gateway Clinic. Purposive sampling was used to draw the sample. Data was collected by individual in-depth semi-structured interviews that were tape-recorded. The study revealed that families provide physical, psychosocial, financial and developmental support to their relatives. Furthermore, families are faced with frustrations when providing support to their mentally ill relatives / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

This study was undertaken to identify the biographical characteristics, attitudes and perceptions of informal family care-givers caring for patients with mental illness in Dennilton. Data were gathered from 48 care-givers by using a cross-sectional survey approach in which structured questionnaires were completed. The results revealed that a sizeable proportion of the care-givers were 60 years and older. Only 10% were employed and a quarter married, suggesting that the care burden influenced their life choices. Many care-givers were mothers or female family members. Half of the patients cared for suffered from depression. Violent, aggressive behaviour was reported as a symptom that care-givers found difficult to deal with. Less than half of the care-givers reported that the patients accepted their health situation. / Sociology / M.A. Soc.