Exploring the experiences and perceptions of mental illness among family caregivers of persons with mental illness in the Bolgatanga Municipality, Upper East region, Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Mental illness remains a global public health concern, affecting individuals and their families across diverse cultural contexts. The perceptions of family caregivers about mental illness are essential as they form the foundation for stigma and discrimination. However, little is known about the experiences and perceptions of family caregivers on mental illness in the Bolgatanga Municipality in Ghana. OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences and perceptions of mental illness among family caregivers of persons with mental illness in the Bolgatanga Municipality, Ghana. METHODS: This qualitative exploratory study was conducted in the Bolgatanga Municipality. Fifteen family caregivers of mentally ill patients were purposively sampled from two hospitals. Individual in-depth interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analysed through an inductive approach using NVivo 12 pro. FINDINGS: The perceptions of family caregivers regarding mental illness were categorized under three emerging themes, including causes of mental illness, symptoms of mental illness, and stigmatization/discrimination. Participants identified the causes of mental illness to be biological, psychological and spiritual. They perceived the symptoms of mental illness as unusual behaviours, sleep disturbances, paranoid beliefs and hallucinations. They also recounted experiences of stigmatization and discrimination directed towards both persons with mental illness and themselves as caregivers. CONCLUSION: The study reveals that caregivers' beliefs about the causes and symptoms of mental illness particularly spiritual attributions strongly influence their experiences and attitudes, often discouraging the use of formal mental health services. These beliefs also reinforce stigma and discrimination toward both individuals with mental illness and their caregivers. To address these challenges, targeted educational interventions are needed to improve mental health literacy and dispel misconceptions. Moreover, both quantitative and qualitative research is essential to deepen understanding of how cultural beliefs shape treatment choices, thereby guiding the development of culturally appropriate interventions that enhance access to formal care.