Abstract

AHNERTH, Neli Machado de Souza et al. "We Get Sick Too": Family Caregivers' Perception on their Sickening. Gerais, Rev. Interinst. Psicol. [online]. 2020, vol.13, n.1, pp. 1-20. ISSN 1983-8220.  http://dx.doi.org/10.36298/gerais2020130106.

The objective of this study is to understand the perception of 20 caregivers about their own process of becoming ill when taking care of a family member in mental distress. The study was conducted through a qualitative approach of the descriptive type, and for the data collection we used a semi structured interview. The information was analyzed following the guidelines of Content Analysis and interpreted from the socio-historical perspective. The testimonies showed that the caregivers' perception of their illness is linked to the family's lack of support in the care and their abdication of their social and professional life after taking on the responsibility of caring for the family member under treatment. Caregivers also understand care as predestination or obligation to be fulfilled. The importance of a collaborative relationship between mental health services and families as a strategy to support the primary caregiver in order to prevent their own illness is evidenced.

Keywords : Family caregiver; Mental distress; Mental health.

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