”Jaha, fanns det ett syskon också?” En kvalitativ studie om personers erfarenheter och upplevelser av att växa upp med ett syskon med psykisk ohälsa. SQ4562,

Abstract

This study aims to examine people's experiences of growing up with a sibling with mental illness. The aim is also to examine what kind of strategies the well siblings have used to deal with eventual challenges. This qualitative study was based on six individual, semi structured interviews. The material was analyzed with a thematic analysis through different theories and theoretical concepts such as stigma, role theory, coping and resilience. The result showed that the participants have experiences of being in the shadow of their sibling with mental illness, and that they learned that their own needs had to come second. Due to shame and stigma the participants also experienced a need of hiding the problem. When their sibling developed mental illness the whole family dynamic changed which, more or less, forced them to adopt new roles - for example some of the participants took the role of a caregiver or “the good one”. The result also showed that most of the participants experienced lack or total absence of both formal and informal forms of support. Therefore, they had to develop their own strategies to deal with the challenges. The result also indicated that the experience endangered the well siblings’ own mental health in adult life. The majority of the participants have developed mental illness of some sort. Although, the result also demonstrated positive experiences of growing up with a sibling with mental illness, such as a deeper understanding of mental illness, increased empathy, autonomy and strength.