Parents' Experiences of Having an Adolescent With a Mental Disorder Admitted to a Public Hospital's Psychiatric Unit.
Hendrietta Vorster-Mbontsi, Nompumelelo Ndlovu, Marie Poggenpoel
PMID 41521530WHAT IT FOUND
Parents of adolescents admitted to a public hospital psychiatric unit in South Africa described grief, anxiety, physical stress, stigma, and feeling unsupported.
Prayer and church helped, but they wanted clear information about diagnosis, medication, and discharge.
Key findings
01Parents felt stuck in grief for their child's lost potential and anxious about future crises.
02Parents said they were not involved in treatment plans and were not given clear medication information.
03Parents used prayer and church support to cope, while community stigma made many isolate themselves.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only ten parents from a public hospital psychiatric unit in Gauteng were interviewed, so the findings may not represent all parents. All participants were Black, and parents of other races were unavailable, so views of other groups were not heard. Telephone interviews were used because of COVID-19 restrictions, and body language and facial expressions could not be observed. The researcher was an advanced practice psychiatric nurse working in the field and did not bracket biases. The study reports parents' experiences; it does not test whether any support or training intervention works.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that prayer, support groups, or nurse training will reduce parent distress. The study reports parents' experiences and suggestions, not tested effects.