“My Family, My Enemies”: Voices of Admitted Mental Health Care Users in Rural Hospitals in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Mental health problems remain a neglected public health concern globally, particularly in rural communities where limited services, stigma, and inadequate family support affect recovery. Furthermore, mental morbidity is a prevalent public health problem globally and in South Africa. Mental health care users (MHCUs) experience stigma, discrimination, and social exclusion in their families, including in the community, which hinders access to adequate treatment and recovery. In rural areas such as Limpopo Province, the MHCUs are frequently misunderstood and labeled as crazy by family members, and their mental health condition is attributed to culture-specific beliefs or spiritual reasons. These misconceptions result in family members having negative attitudes toward MHCUs and rejecting or abandoning them at the hospital. A qualitative exploratory design study was conducted to investigate the experiences of admitted MHCUs in rural hospitals of Limpopo Province. The researcher purposively selected 19 MHCUs who were stable to participate in the study. An unstructured interview guide was used to collect data from stable MHCUs admitted to rural hospitals in Limpopo Province. Thematic analysis was used to identify the main themes and subthemes in participants’ narratives. The study findings revealed significant challenges, such as financial abuse and a lack of support for MHCUs when admitted to the hospital by their families. Family members were found to be the ones rejecting their MHCUs at the hospital, thereby delaying the user’s full recovery. The study concludes that psychoeducation and community awareness regarding mental health issues need to be strengthened to prevent stigma and discrimination against users.