Caregiving for mental health service users: A study exploring the perceptions of mental health service users and their caregivers in Cape Town, South Africa.

Background: Our study explores perceptions of the caregiver support for mental health service users (MHSUs) in a low- to middle-income country setting.

Materials: We conducted in-depth individual interviews with 16 MHSUs and their treatment partners/caregivers from a treatment partner and text-message intervention study.

Discussion: Treatment partners/caregivers felt obligated to care for MHSUs, but had a limited understanding of mental illness. They found supporting adherence to treatment difficult due to a number of factors including violence, food insecurity and substance abuse.

Conclusion: Socioeconomic and environmental factors affecting the lives of MHSUs have impact on caregiver relationships with MHSUs in their care.