WELL-being, PARENT attitudes, ACADEMIC medical centers, COUNSELING, PARENTS of children with disabilities, RESEARCH methodology, INTERVIEWING, PARENTING, QUALITATIVE research, SOCIOECONOMIC factors, PSYCHOSOCIAL factors, DESCRIPTIVE statistics, PSYCHOLOGICAL adaptation, DATA analysis software, MENTAL illness
Abstract
This paper presents findings of a study that explored the challenges and coping strategies of parents of children with mental disorders. In-depth interviews were conducted with 35 parents of children with mental disorders at the Psychiatric Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Findings indicated that financial constraints, inability to secure permanent employment, and stigma were the challenges of the parents. Having faith in God and accepting their children's condition were the coping strategies adopted by the parents. However, lack of effective support system makes coping difficult for the parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
MENTAL illness, PSYCHOLOGY of people with intellectual disabilities, ATTITUDES toward mental illness, PSYCHOLOGICAL abuse, SPIRITUALITY, RESEARCH methodology, SOCIAL stigma, INTERVIEWING, QUALITATIVE research, HEALTH attitudes, RESEARCH funding, JUDGMENT sampling, THEMATIC analysis, PSYCHOLOGICAL adaptation, SOCIAL integration
Abstract
Despite advances in human rights and treatments, stigma toward individuals diagnosed with mental illness is common across the African continent. This article explores experiences of stigma and social exclusion among individuals diagnosed with mental illness and receiving treatment in a psychiatric facility in Ghana. The study, based on in-depth, semi-structured interviews generated the following themes: beliefs in spiritual causes of mental illness; spirituality as a coping mechanism; mistreatment and abuse. The findings highlight the significance of social exclusion and spirituality as the main roots of stigma; also the importance of awareness-raising as tools for anti-stigma work in the global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]