This master’s thesis explores the topic of mental health from the perspective of family members who face the burden of caring for a relative with mental health difficulties. The issue is highly relevant due to the growing prevalence of mental health challenges in society and the ongoing social shift towards deinstitutionalisation. In this context, it is essential to examine what burdens family members, what causes them distress, and which forms of support can contribute to their relief.
The first part of the thesis presents the theoretical foundations that highlight the importance of mental health within the community and the family, viewed through the lens of social work concepts. The central themes of the theoretical framework include stigma, normalisation, and deinstitutionalisation, which represent key factors in supporting family members of people with mental health difficulties. Special attention is devoted to the role of social workers, who, through the social work relationship, empower and strengthen the capacities of family members. The final section of the theoretical framework outlines the main forms of psychosocial support for relatives, including self-help groups, psychoeducational workshops, and the innovative dialogical network approach, whose key principles are compared with those of social work.
The empirical part of the thesis is based on a qualitative research approach, employing semi-structured interviews with family members of adults experiencing mental health difficulties. The aim of the study was to explore how family members perceive their role, which emotions they experience, what burdens they face, and how they cope with these challenges. The results indicate a high level of psychophysical strain among relatives caring for a person with mental health problems. The thesis concludes with several recommendations for improving the situation of family members, including better access to information, counselling, temporary respite services, and greater openness towards innovative support approaches.
The research contributes to a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of family members and reveals the underlying causes of their negative emotions. At the same time, it encourages reflection on the development of policies that would enable family members and their loved ones to access community-based forms of support founded on partnership, openness, and the reduction of stigma.
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