Articles by Carers of persons with mental health issue
Carers
1. Mental Illness and Caregiving: Challenges, Concerns & Complications
Author: Amrit Bakhshy
Indian context | Schizophrenia and other mental illnesses
Amrit Bakhshy, a father caring for a daughter with schizophrenia, wrote this book to help other families navigate the challenges he encountered during his caregiving journey.
The book addresses the practical and emotional difficulties faced by carers, the importance of understanding mental illness, treatment-related concerns, and the need for informed family support.
It also provides useful information about mental health resources in India.
Why read it: This is one of the most directly relevant resources for Indian families caring for someone with a serious mental illness. The author's experience illustrates how a caregiver can progress from confusion and uncertainty to informed support and advocacy.
Further information: Book details and excerpts — PatientsEngage
2. My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward: A Memoir
Author: Mark Lukach
Focus: Marriage, psychosis, caregiving, and recovery.
Lukach recounts his experience supporting his wife, Giulia, through serious psychiatric difficulties, including psychosis and hospitalization.
The memoir explores the emotional demands of being a partner and caregiver, the uncertainty surrounding treatment, the impact of illness on a relationship, and the challenge of balancing love with responsibility.
Why read it: It offers an intimate account of how mental illness can affect both partners and how caregiving can reshape a marriage and family life.
The book is included among the recommendations of the BC Schizophrenia Society.
3. Coping with Psychosis and Schizophrenia: Family Stories of Hope and Recovery
Editors/authors: Juliana Onwumere, David Shiers and Elizabeth Kuipers.
Focus: Family experiences, psychosis, schizophrenia, and recovery.
Published by Cambridge University Press in 2024, this book brings together personal accounts from family carers, including parents, partners, siblings, and children of people who have experienced psychosis.
It explores the difficulties families encounter, the positive aspects of caregiving, and the ways relatives can understand their experiences and develop strategies to support their own well-being.
Why read it: It is particularly valuable because it brings together multiple family perspectives rather than presenting caregiving as a single, uniform experience.
Publisher's description: Cambridge University Press — Coping with Psychosis and Schizophrenia
4. My Sister's Keeper
Author: Margaret Moorman
Focus: Sibling caregiving and schizophrenia.
Moorman recounts the experience of caring for a sister with schizophrenia. The memoir explores the emotional complexities of sibling relationships when one person experiences serious mental illness and another assumes significant caregiving responsibilities.
Why read it: It highlights a perspective that can be overlooked when discussions of caregiving focus primarily on parents and spouses.
The book is listed among the mental health reading recommendations of NAMI Central Virginia.