Beyond symptom management: Family relations, unmet needs of persons living with severe mental illnesses, and potential implications for social work in South Africa.

Journal: Social work in health care

Volume: 55

Issue: 1

Year of Publication: 2016

Affiliated Institutions:  a Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies , University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban , South Africa. c Department of Psychiatry, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine , University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban , South Africa. d Duke Global Health Institute , Duke University , Durham , North Carolina , USA. e New York State Psychiatric Institute , New York , New York , USA. f Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division (HEARD) , University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban , South Africa. b Department of Epidemiology , Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University , New York , New York , USA.

Abstract summary 

This study examined the quality of family relationships and its associations with the severity of unmet needs of individuals admitted to a tertiary psychiatric hospital in South Africa. The quality of family relations and perceived unmet needs were assessed using the Lehman Quality of Life Interview and Camberwell Assessment of Needs, respectively. The results show that higher total unmet needs were associated with lower quality of family relations. The main areas of serious unmet needs included accessing government benefits and information, and establishing social relations. The results have implications for hospital-based social workers beyond managing psychiatric symptoms in South Africa.

Authors & Co-authors:  Tomita Andrew A Burns Jonathan K JK King Howard H Baumgartner Joy Noel JN Davis Glen P GP Mtshemla Sisanda S Nene Siphumelele S Susser Ezra E

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  Abdullah S. Multicultural social work and national trauma: Lessons from South Africa. International Social Work. 2013 doi: 10.1177/0020872812461019.
Authors :  8
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1080/00981389.2015.1088926
SSN : 1541-034X
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Adult
Other Terms
Family relation;South Africa;need assessment;severe mental illness;social work
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
South Africa
Publication Country
United States