FAMILY CAREGIVER’S EXPERIENCES USING COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN MALAYSIA (Pengalaman Penjaga Keluarga menggunakan Perkhidmatan Kesihatan Mental Komuniti di Malaysia)

Abstract

Many studies of family caregiving have found mixed findings in evaluating the effectiveness ofcommunity services in reducing family caregiver stress. In addition, the study also showed that someof the caregiver has limited experience in obtaining care. The purpose of this article was to describethe experience of the use of community mental health services, including benefits and barriers, byfamily caregivers of schizophrenic patients in Malaysia. Community mental health services includedassistance with caregiving and educational as well as emotional support by community mental healthprofessionals. In this qualitative descriptive study, a purposive sample of 24 family caregivers wasinterviewed. Semi-structured interview technique was used to explore the caregivers' experiences withcommunity mental health services. Transcribed data were analysed using qualitative frameworkanalysistechniques. Results indicated that family caregivers received benefits of personal respite,sense of community, financial and emotional supports as well as gained practical knowledge andbelieved that their family also benefited from the community services used. Barriers to service useincluded lack of attention, accessibility issues and concerns over quality. All the findings in this studyprovide direction for mental health workers in targeting interventions that will meet the caregivers’needs and desires.