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Abstract
In many cases the consumers of mental health information and support are the families of mental health sufferers. The aim of the project was to understand resilience in people who live with or support a family member with a diagnosed or undiagnosed mental illness. Participants were 15 carers (one male, 14 female). Semi-structured interviews were transcribed and analysed using content analysis. Eight recurring themes emerged which indicated the challenges the carers faced and provided indications of the positive and negative personal, family and social factors that impacted on their lives. These themes were ‘Getting to CLAN WA’, ‘Accessing help including CLAN WA’, ‘Impact of living with a person who has a mental illness or problematic behaviour’, ‘Family and cultural issues’, ‘Communication within the family’,‘Coping strategies and evidence of resilience’, ‘Social support’ and ‘Notion of sacrifice’. There is still considerable work to do in supporting people who live with or support a family member in these circumstances. The findings demonstrate that individuals living with adversity can do more than just survive the process.
Acknowledgements
No research occurs in a vacuum and the researchers acknowledge the assistance of CLAN WA CEO Stuart Tomlinson who organised for various staff members of CLAN WA to be available to facilitate the in-home interviews and to arrange other interviews at CLAN WA offices. Additionally, many thanks must go to the CLAN WA clients who were willing to share their stories with the researchers and who in many cases relived some dramatic events during that story telling. These stories provide the research community with valuable information about resilience and how it may possibly be enhanced despite long and arduous journeys.
