Navigating Mental Health: Community Members’ Insights into Social Support and Inclusion in Matsafeni Village in Mbombela, Mpumalanga Province—A Qualitative Study

Nkhensani Eseldah Mboweni, Mabitsela Hezekiel Mphasha () and Linda Skaal
Additional contact information
Nkhensani Eseldah Mboweni: Department of Public Health, University of Limpopo, Polokwane 0727, South Africa
Mabitsela Hezekiel Mphasha: Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Limpopo, Polokwane 0727, South Africa
Linda Skaal: Department of Public Health, Sefako Makgatho University, GaRankuwa 0204, South Africa

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 21, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Mental health illnesses are increasingly prevalent worldwide, and South Africa is no exception. The research investigates the vital significance of social support in enhancing the welfare of individuals dealing with mental disorders. An essential aspect involves comprehending the interplay of emotional and practical supports provided by both families and the larger community. This study aims to explore community perceptions regarding social support and the involvement of individuals diagnosed with mental illnesses in Matsafeni Village. The research employed the qualitative method and descriptive exploratory research design, enabling the researchers to explore social support and the involvement of individuals with mental health disorders. Data were collected through unstructured, open-ended interviews, and participants were selected using a convenience sampling method. A total of only 15 participants were enrolled in this study, with variations in their educational backgrounds. Notably, only two participants had firsthand experiences with family members facing mental disorders. The study underscored the critical roles of family and community supports for individuals diagnosed with mental health disorders. The participants emphasized the necessity of mentally ill individuals receiving support from their loved ones and the broader community. Furthermore, they highlighted the importance for including individuals with mental health disorders in community activities as a means of better managing their conditions. The findings of this study can serve as a foundation for developing interventions to assist and support individuals affected by mental health disorders. Policymakers can also utilize the information to formulate strategies and best practices for promoting mental health awareness within the community.

Keywords: community; social support; community involvement; mental illnesses; family (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/1/32/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/1/32/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2023:i:1:p:32-:d:1307378

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().