Although today’s society increasingly discusses mental health problems, the topic remains taboo, and individuals dealing with these issues are often stigmatised. Mental health problems affect not only the individual but also their relatives and friends. Professional help and support are primarily intended for individuals with mental health problems, while their family members are often overlooked. The aim of this thesis is to examine how these situations change the lives of relatives, to explore their experiences, fears, difficulties, encounters with stigma, and to understand what kind of support they need. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with seven individuals who have a family member dealing with mental health problems. Five participants were female and two were male.
The theoretical part of the thesis first defines mental health and then focuses on family members – the changes in their lives, their roles, their difficulties, and the stigma they experience. One chapter explores the phenomenon of “young carers”, with which I became more closely acquainted through an interview with one of the female participants. I examined the forms of support available to family members, which are predominantly provided by non-governmental organisations. At the end of the theoretical introduction, I focused on the Long-Term Care Act and its relevance to the field of mental health. I also explored how support for relatives is organised abroad.
The empirical part of the thesis presents the collected data and discussion, followed by the conclusion and recommendations. This research deepened my knowledge of mental health and, above all, improved my understanding of the experiences of family members in this context. In the interviews, relatives described how taxing this experience can be and how they frequently deal with unpleasant emotions such as fear, uncertainty, and guilt. When a family member shows the first signs of mental health problems, relatives find themselves in a difficult position, mainly due to a lack of understanding and unfamiliarity with such issues. They try to cope by educating themselves about the topic, attending lectures, and participating in support groups. What helps them most is talking about their experiences, especially with individuals who have been in similar situations. Sharing experiences fosters a sense of connection and helps them cope with distress. It is evident that a family member's mental health problems affect relationships among all family members, which often represents an additional burden. Family members report substantial changes in their lives, as they take on many caregiving responsibilities, adapt their daily routines, and often neglect their own needs. All of this leads to feelings of helplessness and overload and may also manifest as health problems. Mutual support, participation in various activities and support groups, access to information, and psychological support play a crucial role in coping with the situation. Research shows that relatives are often overlooked as individuals who would independently seek support, even though they take on an important part of the caregiving role for a family member. Therefore, this thesis addresses the need for greater accessibility of information, inclusion of relatives in the care process, and provision of support for all family members. Furthermore, it is important to raise awareness across society as a whole and strive to destigmatise mental health problems.
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