title: Help-seeking for parents of individuals experiencing a first episode of schizophrenia.
abstract: The purpose of this triangulated study was to understand parents' experience of help-seeking in response to their child's first episode of schizophrenia. Twenty participants completed questionnaires related to stigma, parental caregiver burden, uncertainty in illness and help-seeking. Findings indicated: (1) as stigmatized attitudes towards mental illness and feelings of ambiguity increased, so did burden; (2) as parental education increased, uncertainty regarding their child's illness decreased; (3) as the number of symptoms causing distress increased so did burden and lack of clarity regarding their child's illness. A significant amount of time passed before parents were able to access help. No relationships were found between indicators of parental help-seeking and the study variables. A subset of five participants described their help-seeking experience. Three overarching themes emerged: (1) Evolving change: What does it mean? (2) Continuous help-seeking, and (3) The help-seeking experience: Impact on parents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai Hospital and the School of Nursing, Faculty of Community Services, Ryerson Polytechnic University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. dczuchta@mtsinai.on.ca
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Czuchta
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McCay
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors