ReviewGlobal mental health (Cambridge, England)2026
Experiences, needs and priorities of family caregivers of people with severe mental health conditions in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review of qualitative studies.
Review in Global mental health (Cambridge, England), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Family caregivers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) provide the lion's share of care for their relatives with severe mental health conditions amid vast treatment gaps. Yet, their lived experiences are not adequately explored. This systematic review synthesizes evidence on the lived experiences, priorities and needs of these caregivers across diverse LMIC settings. We analyzed 76 articles identified across nine databases. Data were synthesized using thematic analysis. The synthesis identified five themes: (1) the journey to understanding, (2) familial commitment to care, (3) the unrelenting burden of caregiving, (4) Forging resilience: strategies of enduring care and (5) voiced needs and priorities. The early attempts to understand the illness take the family on a journey from initial uncertainty to experiential learning. Familial commitment to care is often rooted in moral obligation and system neglect, but this sustained effort leads to an immense caregiving toll. The burden is profoundly gendered, disproportionately affecting women, who commonly face isolation and burnout. Caregivers often navigate pervasive, multidimensional stigma that restricts the entire family's social and economic future. Despite these challenges, resilience is fostered through faith, peer support and active inclusion of the person in family routines. Caregivers urgently prioritized mental health services that offer knowledge about the illness, active and respectful involvement in treatment planning, practical caregiving skills and support groups. The pressing need for economic support was also expressed. This review underscores the need for global mental health endeavors to recognize and respond to unsupported family caregiving. Family focused interventions have the potential to modify the home environment in ways that support recovery for the person and alleviate many of the caregiving challenges faced by the family. Alongside this, initiatives are needed to address economic precarity and facilitate social inclusion of the family unit.
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