Distributed impact of severe mental health conditions in rural Ethiopia, a qualitative study

To explore the distributed impact of severe mental health conditions (SMHCs) among people with lived experience of SMHCs, their family members, and community members.

We conducted in-depth interviews with family key informants of people with SMHCs (n = 32), people with SMHCs (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression) (n = 10), and community members (n = 6) in rural Ethiopia. The study was nested within a long-standing population-based cohort of people with SMHCs. Interviews were conducted in Amharic and were audiotaped. We conducted a thematic analysis.

We identified four themes: stress and physical tolls, lost expectations, social disruption, and economic threat. Family members reported stress and hopelessness; some also tried to harm themselves. Family members reported that their relationships with each other and with the wider community were disrupted significantly. Spouses and children did not get the support they needed, leading to unmet expectations: being left alone to care for children, unable to go to school or dropping out early. The study participants with SMHCs also spoke about the impacts of their illness on other family members and the community which appeared to be a source of shame and self-isolation. Both the family and the community respondents reported the economic effect of the illness which sometimes led to selling assets, debt, unemployment, forced migration, and food insecurity. Community members emphasised the economic burden and danger related to the aggressive behavior of the person with SMHCs, while the person with the illness and their family members blamed the community for the stigma and discrimination they experienced.

SMHCs have profound consequences for the person with the illness, their family members, and the community. Future interventions for SMHCs should consider household-level interventions to address economic and care needs and mitigate the intergenerational impact. The community should be considered as a resource as well as a target for intervention.