A descriptive study to assess the level of stress among family members of selected mentally ill clients attending psychiatry OPD of a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: Mental disorders have profound implications on health and well-being not only of individuals with the disorder but also of their families and entire community. Much of the interest in the field of mental health around the families who care for their mentally ill members generated has been due to factors such as deinstitutionalisation of the mentally ill, increasing professional recognition of the family’s burden in caring for the mentally ill members and the growing self-help movement of the families of mentally ill. Material and Methods: Fifty family members of schizophrenia and mood disorder clients attending Psychiatric OPD, Gauhati Medical College Hospital, Assam are assessed by using a structured interview schedule on stress. Results: Majority of the family members (56%) had moderate level of stress while 22% family members had severe stress and the remaining 22% family members had mild stress. There was no significant association between the stress level of family members and their demographic variables. There was a significant difference in the stress level among the family members of mentally ill clients. There was no significant difference between the stress of family members of schizophrenia clients and that of mood disorder clients. Conclusion: All the family members of mentally ill clients have certain level of stress and they are in need of support in the reduction of stress. The family members are in great need of financial support since highest number of family members has severe stress regarding finance.