Family members’ experiences of ‘living well’ with a family member with depression

Abstract

Background

With the high and growing prevalence of depression worldwide, there is an increasing number of families assuming the role of caregivers for family members with mental health conditions such as depression.

Aim

The aim of this study was to explore how family members describe and perceive the experience of living well with a family member living with depression.

Methods

Narrative inquiry was used to elicit stories from eight participants who lived with an adult family member diagnosed with depression. Narrative and thematic analysis were used.

Findings

Participants described the experience of living well through the themes of ‘times of uncertainty, distress, change, adaptation, perseverance, endurance, hope, and healing.’

Discussion

This study found that participants needed to make substantial psychosocial adaptations and modification to roles, goals, and relationships that they described as necessary to live well. Living well was described as synonymous with ‘normal’ living when living with a family member living with depression. Depression was described as bringing disruption, change, adaptation, challenges, acceptance, gains, and hope. Although paradoxical in terms of societal understandings of living well, participants described their current state of being as an example of living well.

Conclusion

The findings highlight the necessity for health professionals, mental health, and comprehensively trained nurses to adopt an integrated way of examining a family’s dynamics. Attention ought to be given to strengths, and concerns in health and illness when supporting families, not just the person diagnosed with depression.