ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT OF CAREGIVING FOR SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL ADULTS: AN AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Most people with severe mental illness depend on family to provide care. Although an increasing amount of research has examined caregiving, there is much to be discovered about the caregiving experience of African American families. This ethnographic study reports findings from 16 African American caregivers, presenting a picture of how they navigate through their environment to meet the needs of caregiving. Formal resource selection and use, and perceived barriers to and facilitators of care within an urban environment, are discussed. The impact of the African American community's perception of mental illness on caregiving and involvement in policy change also is discussed.