Daily Life Experiences of Young Adults Caregivers Caring for a Family Members with a Mental Illness

This study aimed to conduct a profound investigation and examination of the daily life experiences of young adults caring for a family member with a mental illness. In-depth interviews were performed with three study participants for five sessions each, and the qualitative case study method was employed for data analysis. The analytical results identified the following five topics from among 13 subcategories: ‘family communication bound by the shackles of mental illness caregiving,’‘an anxious caregiving space, playing the faulty strings of the heart,’ ‘wasted time for self-consolation disguised as happiness amidst psychological fractures,’ ‘the mentally ill family member who has become a weakness in average days,’ and ‘recklessly dreaming of a someday when we can each live our own lives.’ In summary, the study participants reported not having close relationships due to poor communication among family members while they were caring for mentally ill relatives. They also indicated not experiencing stable developmental stages because they were faced with prejudices against their family member with a mental illness. However, their caring burden was reduced to some degree when their family member with a mental illness changed as a result of using public services. Moreover, caregivers expressed the desire to live independently in the future although their current life was largely focused on caring for the family member with the mental illness. In conclusion, the study’s findings suggest the need for more public attention to young adults caring for family members with mental illnesses. In conclusion, drawing on the research findings, this study advocates for heightened societal attention to young caregivers of family members with mental illness, alongside the development of targeted support strategies that account for the heterogeneity of the care recipients' needs.