Navigating care and challenges: A qualitative study of the lived experience of supporting a family member with mental illness

Background

Informal caregivers are essential in supporting individuals with severe mental illness, yet their own experiences are often overlooked in mental health research and services. Much of the existing literature emphasizes caregiver burden, with less attention to the lived complexity of caregiving.

Aim

This study aimed to explore how informal caregiving for a family member with severe mental illness shapes everyday life, relationships, and identities.

Methods

In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 22 informal caregivers supporting individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Findings

Four themes were identified: (1) Hope and ambivalence in love, (2) The duality of caregiving responsibility, (3) Sacrificing self for others, and (4) Seeking spaces for recovery and respite. Caregiving emerged as a morally grounded and emotionally layered practice, shaped by enduring love, shifting relational boundaries, identity negotiations, and continuous efforts to find relief and meaning.

Conclusion

Caregiving for a family member with severe mental illness is not only a practical task, but a deeply relational and existential defining condition. These findings call for more inclusive and responsive support systems that recognize caregivers’ commitments, address their challenges, and draw on their lived expertise in shaping future policies and practices.