And suddenly, he isn't himself: Understanding and overcoming mental illness: A family member's narrative

• Main Authors: Aquino, Mariel Cielo Anne J. T., Castano, Avianna Nahzneene, Espiritu, Mashan Bernice DC, Galang, John Angelo V.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2015
• Subjects: Mentally ill > Family relationships; Mental illness; Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/11429
• Institution: De La Salle University

The aim of this study was to explore how family members shape their beliefs about mental illness throughout their life journey with mentally ill kin and how their relationships and roles change throughout the process of discovery, treatment, and recovery. The study focused on the stories of two families in the Philippines from different socioeconomic strata. The nuances from the stories of each family member allowed the revelation of the following themes: the absence of one or more family members, pressure experienced by mentally ill kin, descriptions of mentally ill kin as naturally withdrawn, methods of addressing unusual behavior displayed by kin with mental illness, making the decision to acquire treatment for mental illness, difficulties encountered in terms of accessing treatment for mental illness, seeking spiritual help and additional forms of addressing mental illness, practical adjustments made to improve family support post diagnosis, forgoing emotional stress to adhere to mentally ill kin well-being, positive experiences with treatment, concern for the social environment of kin with mental illness, and envisioning a stronger family after facing challenges. All of which reveal a better insight to their life journeys leading to, and following the crucial event of diagnosis of mental illness of their kin.