A dire state of mental health services persists in Sub-Saharan Africa. The absence of functional mental health systems calls for informal caregivers to become a vital health resource in the care and management of mental disorders. Occupying this role predisposes informal caregivers to strain subsequently leading to caregiver burden, thus compromising their health and well-being. This chapter outlines the unique role played by informal caregivers in a low-resourced setting, the negative consequences of occupying the caregiving role, and the support needs of informal caregivers. The current barriers affecting the delivery of caregiver-orientated mental health services are presented. Lastly, the chapter proposes multilevel strategies to be implemented for supporting informal caregivers in a low-resourced setting.

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Supporting Informal Caregivers of Persons with Mental Disorders in Sub-Saharan Africa

  • Olindah Silaule,
  • Daleen Casteleijn

摘要

A dire state of mental health services persists in Sub-Saharan Africa. The absence of functional mental health systems calls for informal caregivers to become a vital health resource in the care and management of mental disorders. Occupying this role predisposes informal caregivers to strain subsequently leading to caregiver burden, thus compromising their health and well-being. This chapter outlines the unique role played by informal caregivers in a low-resourced setting, the negative consequences of occupying the caregiving role, and the support needs of informal caregivers. The current barriers affecting the delivery of caregiver-orientated mental health services are presented. Lastly, the chapter proposes multilevel strategies to be implemented for supporting informal caregivers in a low-resourced setting.