Factors Contributing to Rejection of Mental Health Care Users by their Family Members: A Case Study at Hayani Psychiatric Hospital, Limpopo

Abstract

Introduction: This study explored factors contributing to rejection of MHCUs after observing MHCUs after they have been treated and rehabilitated. The researcher was motivated to investigate this issue after observing that many MHCUs re in Hayani Psychiatric hospital even after they were ready for discharge as their families refused to take them back. Previous studies have shown that having a family member with a mental illness affects the entire family in multiple ways. Families often experience physical, social, psychological, and financial difficulties, leading some to feel more at ease when their relatives remain in hospital. The study aimed to identify the factors that contribute to family rejection of MHCUs. The specific objectives were to explore the reasons for rejection, describe its impact on family members, examine the relationship between families and MHCUs identify the support families expect from the hospital when MHCUs are ready for leave of absence(LOA) or discharge, and explore resources or community programmes that could assist families in managing the challenges leading to rejection. Methods An exploratory case study design was used within a qualitative research approach, guided by the parental Acceptance-Rejection theory (Rhohner et al., 2012).A purposive sampling strategy was used to select 15 family members who had close contact with MHCUs. Data was collected through semi-structured interview and analysed using thematic content analysis. Ethical consideration, including informed consent and confidentiality, were strictly followed. Results and discussion The findings revealed five key factors contributing to rejection of MHCUs by their families: physical, behavioural, social, psychological, and financial factors. Based on this findings, the study made recommendations for the Department of Health, the Department of Social Development, and policy makers to address the challenges faced by families of MHCUs.