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Siblings as caregivers for the seriously mentally ill
1Rutgers University.
The Milbank Quarterly
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Siblings provide crucial support for individuals with serious mental illness when other family support is unavailable. This pilot study highlights their willingness to increase assistance, especially when parents are deceased.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Social Work
Background:
- Seriously mentally ill (SMI) individuals often lack spousal or parental support.
- Siblings represent a significant, yet understudied, source of support for SMI individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the role and potential of sibling support for seriously mentally ill individuals.
- To assess the current level of contact and willingness to increase support among siblings.
Main Methods:
- Pilot study involving 108 siblings of seriously mentally ill individuals.
- Data collected on sibling relationships, contact frequency, and support provision.
Main Results:
- Siblings maintained regular contact and positive relationships with their ill siblings.
- A majority of siblings expressed willingness to increase their support.
- Sibling support was more pronounced when parental support was absent.
Conclusions:
- Siblings are a vital, often overlooked, support system for seriously mentally ill individuals.
- Increased attention to sibling support is warranted from policymakers, clinicians, and researchers.