Narratives of Mothers: An Optimistic View of Raising Children with Disabilities

The study explored the experiences of 49 mothers of children with disabilities through interviews at home. The children were in the age group of 5-13 years, and were studying in mainstream schools. The families resided in New Delhi, the capital of India. They were from the middle socio-economic status and followed Hinduism. The mothers described a wide range of difficulties ranging from financial, emotional to interpersonal in raising their children. However, 21 mothers among them stood out from the rest. Their narratives were optimistic and had positive perceptions. They gave positive meanings to their lives and to the child’s situation despite challenges and even though the larger system viewed them negatively. The paper highlights themes that emerged as part of the journey of mothers in developing a more optimistic view of their child’s situation and their own self as a person. The research has implications for family interventions.

Culturally Adapted Family Intervention for People With Schizophrenia in Indonesia (FUSION): A Development and Feasibility Study Protocol

Background Mental illnesses comprise the single largest source of health-related economic burden globally and low-and middle-income countries are disproportionately affected. The majority of people with schizophrenia who need treatment do not receive it and are often wholly reliant on family caregivers for daily care and support. Family interventions have an exceptionally robust evidence base for their efficacy in high resource settings, but it is unknown whether they can produce equivalent effects in some low resource settings where cultural beliefs, explanatory models of illness and contextual socio-economic issues differ. Methods This protocol describes methods to culturally adapt and refine an evidence-based, family intervention for relatives and caregivers of people with schizophrenia in Indonesia. The feasibility and acceptability of implementing an adapted, co-produced intervention via task-shifting in primary care settings will be evaluated using the Medical Research Council framework for complex interventions. The development and preliminary testing of the adapted intervention will occur in three phases utilising mixed methods; stakeholder and key informant interviews will inform consensus workshops using nominal group techniques to develop a testable intervention. The feasibility of testing the intervention in a larger trial and the acceptability of the intervention will be explored in a feasibility trial of adapted family interventions compared to standard treatment. Participants in Phase 1 consultation groups will comprise service-users (n = 10-15), carers (n=10-15) and key stakeholders including lay and healthcare workers (n=10-15) and semi-structured interviews with key informants to identify implementation challenges and facilitators (n= 10). Phase 2 participants will include expert stakeholders including experts by experience to achieve consensus on the essential elements of the intervention (n = 20) and a separate group to develop training methods and materials for our task-shifted intervention. Phase 3 will comprise 60 carer-service-user dyads participating in a randomised feasibility trial. Discussion National healthcare policy in Indonesia supports the delivery of mental health services in a complex network of primary care centres. This study will provide important information on the feasibility of delivering family interventions for people with schizophrenia via task-shifting in primary care settings in Indonesia.

FAMILY INTERVENTIONS TO DEAL WITH PSYCHO SOCIAL PROBLEMS OF CARETAKERS OF PERSONS LIVING WITH CANCER – CASE STUDY

Family has a central role at the time of crisis. When an individual suffers with terminal illness like Cancer it definitely becomes more supportive. But in a crisisful situation like such, the family requires supportive interventions. This article presents a case study of primary caretaker of a cancer patient who undergoes severe psycho social challenges. Aim of this paper is to highlight the need and effectiveness of family intervention by Medical Social Worker through a case study. Psycho education to family, team work, utilizing the resources has shown remarkable results in reducing the psycho social problems of caretaker. Family environment plays a very significant role in psycho social support of its members. Positive environment and family socialization experiences enhances one’s ability to cope with stress and anxiety. Hence family interventions for caretakers of persons living with cancer can support both care givers and patients. Multidisciplinary approach in cancer care is the need of the hour. It can build a proper support mechanism for the person suffering from cancer and his family. The most important implication of the current study is the unveiling of the need for Medical Social Workers in oncology settings and the interventions they can deliver. A professionally trained medical Social Worker, equipped with psycho social skills to work with caretakers, patients and their families can be a effective oncology Social Worker