Male Caregivers of Mentally Ill Relatives

TOPIC: To describe the lived experiences of male caregivers of severely mentally ill relatives and their perceptions of this nontraditional role. METHODS: A qualitative study of informal interviews with purposively selected male caregivers (N = 10), using an informal interview guide that addressed psychosocial, physical, financial, and crisis-management categories. FINDINGS: The data yielded three themes of caregiving: expressions of burden, duration and depth of commitment, and role affirmation. CONCLUSIONS: The results can help health professionals develop needed education and support services for men in this emerging role and contribute to family health in the community.