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African and African Caribbean Carers' experience of caring for a family member with an enduring mental health problem in contemporary Britain

African and African Caribbean Carers' experience of caring for a family member with an enduring mental health problem in contemporary Britain
African and African Caribbean Carers' experience of caring for a family member with an enduring mental health problem in contemporary Britain
Recent government reports indicate that there is a high incidence of enduring mental health problems in the African and African Caribbean communities living in the UK. Although research has explored the experience of service users from both of these communities, little is known about how family carers experience caring for a relative with an enduring mental health problem from the same communities. The aim of this investigation was to explore the lived caring experience of seven carers from the African and African Caribbean communities who cared for family members with an enduring mental health problem. A hermeneutical phenomenological approach, as described by Van Manen was used, which encompassed descriptions of carers’ experience of caring and subsequent interpretation of their lived experience. Analysis of the findings revealed the caring experience to encompass: (i) being there and staying there; (ii) losing oneself and re-discovering self; (iii) keeping an on-going dialogue with others, (iv) a conscious awareness of cultural stereotypes and (v) sustaining hope during the caring experience. The study concluded that carers from both communities maintain a strong familial obligation in their caring experience. Carers also make use of local community care groups to assert their carer role with mental health and social care services. Recommendations for future research are discussed in relation to improvements in mental health and social care provision.
Pelle, J.
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Pelle, J.
ebe4cb1d-9320-464b-bd23-253790a93123
Tee, S.
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Lathlean, Judith A
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Pelle, J. (2013) African and African Caribbean Carers' experience of caring for a family member with an enduring mental health problem in contemporary Britain. University of Southampton, Faculty of Health Sciences, Doctoral Thesis, 293pp.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

Recent government reports indicate that there is a high incidence of enduring mental health problems in the African and African Caribbean communities living in the UK. Although research has explored the experience of service users from both of these communities, little is known about how family carers experience caring for a relative with an enduring mental health problem from the same communities. The aim of this investigation was to explore the lived caring experience of seven carers from the African and African Caribbean communities who cared for family members with an enduring mental health problem. A hermeneutical phenomenological approach, as described by Van Manen was used, which encompassed descriptions of carers’ experience of caring and subsequent interpretation of their lived experience. Analysis of the findings revealed the caring experience to encompass: (i) being there and staying there; (ii) losing oneself and re-discovering self; (iii) keeping an on-going dialogue with others, (iv) a conscious awareness of cultural stereotypes and (v) sustaining hope during the caring experience. The study concluded that carers from both communities maintain a strong familial obligation in their caring experience. Carers also make use of local community care groups to assert their carer role with mental health and social care services. Recommendations for future research are discussed in relation to improvements in mental health and social care provision.

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Published date: July 2013
Organisations: University of Southampton, Faculty of Health Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 358910
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/358910
PURE UUID: 1f807c5c-24ec-405a-90c4-326bba803765

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Date deposited: 10 Dec 2013 16:43
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 15:11

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Contributors

Author: J. Pelle
Thesis advisor: S. Tee
Thesis advisor: Judith A Lathlean

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