The impact of a person-centred web-based intervention on young informal carers of people with mental illness

• Background: Previous research show that young person’s often take responsibility and offer care and support for significant others who suffer from mental illness. This adoption of responsibility has consequences not only for the mentally ill, but also for the carer. A person-centred support approach to provide the young informal carers of what they are in need of is according to previous research essential, and in need of. As the internet becomes increasingly fundamental to young people in their daily lives, person-centred web-based interventions may be effective in supporting those caring for a person with mental illness.Objective: To analyze (according to stress, burden, quality of life, and self-efficacy) the impact of a person-centred web-based intervention (information, education, and support) for young persons who support family members or close friends with mental illness.Methods: The study design was prospective and randomized. The sample consisted of young informal carers (N = 241; 16–25 y), where N = 241 completed structured questionnaires at baseline and were allocated to person-centred web-based support (N = 121) respectively folder support (n =120) regarding available support in the society for young persons who support someone suffering from mental illness.Results: Data show that the stress levels were high in both groups at the start of the intervention, but decreased in the folder group, who also showed improvements in their caring situation (also different from the web-support group), general self-efficacy, well-being and their quality of life. The group who received person-centred web-based support showed significant increase in their well-being.Conclusion: It is of great importance to measure the stress and caring situation of young informal carers of persons with mental illness in order to understand their situation. One type of support could be person-centred web-based, however our results indicate that individuals seek support depending on their individual preferences. Since the responsibility of care has shifted from the health care services to the family and friends of the person suffering from a mental illness, more person- centred care/support interventions should be investigated for further development.

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MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

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