Developing services for the carers of young adults with early-onset psychosis - listening to their experiences and needs

The care‐giving experience of carers of young adults with early onset psychosis is relatively unexplored. New carers are less likely to be engaged with local services for carers and families, than those more established in their caring role. Understanding the experience of these carers provides some...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing 2005-10, Vol.12 (5), p.589-597
Main Authors: SIN, J., MOONE, N., WELLMAN, N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Aged
Caregivers - organization & administration
carers
Community Mental Health Services - organization & administration
Empathy
family and carers work/ services
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Middle Aged
Needs Assessment
Nursing
Parent-Child Relations
psycho-education
Psychosis
Psychotic Disorders - nursing
Qualitative Research
Role
Social Support
United Kingdom
young adults with early onset psychosis
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Summary:The care‐giving experience of carers of young adults with early onset psychosis is relatively unexplored. New carers are less likely to be engaged with local services for carers and families, than those more established in their caring role. Understanding the experience of these carers provides some valuable insight into the value of caring and in guiding service development. This paper reports on a study designed to explore carers’ experiences of caring for a young adult diagnosed with a first psychotic episode and their needs in relation to the development of an early intervention for psychosis service. A phenomenological approach was used. Eleven carers were given a semi‐structured interview in their own homes. All of the carers in the study had a son with early onset psychosis. The outcome revealed that all carers were providing a comprehensive range of practical, emotional and financial support for their son including initiating and sustaining engagement between them and local mental health services. Many carers were felt to be invisible and silent partners in care and felt under‐valued by mental health services.
ISSN:1351-0126
1365-2850
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2850.2005.00883.x