Living with Schizophrenia: A Phenomenological Study of People with Schizophrenia Living in the Family

Abstract

Health includes physical, mental, social and spiritual wellbeing of individual. Normal mental health is the ability of an individual to function normally, adjust with his/her environment and contribute to the society satisfactorily. As it is important to recognize normal mental health of an individual, it is also important to recognize abnormal mental health. The purpose of this current thesis paper is to investigate and understand the psycho-social conditions of people living with schizophrenia in the family. Case Study based on interpretative phenomenological analysis of phenomenological qualitative research method is the basic method of this current study paper. Because this proposed study requires in-depth information of the psycho-social conditions of people living with schizophrenia in family. The National Institute of Mental Health and Hospital (NIMH) has considered as the study area. There are fifteen cases have taken to analysis the data. The result of this current study paper shows schizophrenia is not only a problem for individual but also it has a great negative effect on his or her family members’ individual, group or social life. The greatest burden on patients and family members of patients is the financial cost to the family. This can include treatment costs, transport to appointments, the cost of hiring a carer and adapting their home environment. The schizophrenic patients create disruption in daily routine activities, in leisure time, in interaction or family relationships, education and work, and also affect the physical and mental health of other caregivers or family members. This study also shows that people with schizophrenia and their family face different types of stigma in their social life cycle. In concluding step it might be said that GO and NGO, national, international initiatives and strategies should be execute properly and community based awareness building program and mental health services should be ensure to treat the schizophrenic patients properly and ensure their proper status and social functioning in the society.