Matriz de análisis de los documentos de política educativa

Participants expressed how the programme had improved their willingness to engage with people with mental disorders and their families. Two sub-themes were abstracted from the data indicating their willingness to engage: Greater knowledge enhances engagement (with the person and family), and Increased confidence strengthens engagement.

6.4.2.1 Greater knowledge enhances engagement

Participants’ previous lack of knowledge about and fear of people with mental disorders contributed to their reluctance to engage with these individuals and their families. They felt helpless in their role as community leaders in such situations.

First of all, if somebody faces the problem, [and] because I am an assembly woman without any knowledge about mental disorders, I took it for granted that it was part of life and I didn’t have any solution for, and couldn’t do anything about, it. (IC2.F10)

causes and effects, risk factors and treatment options for depression and schizophrenia. Their knowledge was further enhanced as information provided was complemented by video presentations of the lived experiences of people with these disorders.

The training programme has really equipped me with the knowledge of mental health issues, so right now, as an assembly man, in case I meet such a situation, I will be able to communicate with the family of that person, so that I will also educate the family to understand the problem of that person suffering from mental illness. (IC2.M16)

Participants also had the opportunity to discuss their knowledge and share their experiences openly with others in their group. They realised that, while knowledge was important, having a positive attitude towards people with these disorders was equally essential. Participants appreciated the issues about attitudes that were shared in their intervention cluster and this affected their attitudes favourably.

As a consequence of the knowledge acquired and attitudinal change, they expressed satisfaction in their capability to engage with people with mental disorders and their families.

I now know that, if I meet somebody in that situation I must approach their parents and inform them, so that I can interact with them to find out the steps they have taken. If they have not taken any steps, then I will advise them to take him [the person] to the hospital. I will urge them to go in for medicine for the child; because there is medicine available for this illness. Again, there are doctors who treat them, and I will direct them to take the person to the hospital. (IC2.F9)

The acquired knowledge further heightened participants’ sensitivity to the importance of being attentive to the needs of people with these disorders.

I got to know that [with] such people, particular care and attention must be paid to them. Because sometimes if we reject them, then it means their problem is going to worsen. So, I have come to realise that we have to appreciate and accommodate them. By so doing, we can help them to recover from their situation. (IC3.M23)

commented that, as result of participating in the programme, the support she gave to her own daughter with a mental disorder had improved in comparison to the care she provided previously.

So, all that I did was to take her to the hospital. All that I did was to collect her medication and administer it to her, and all that I knew was that she could sleep and wake up. I didn’t have any knowledge about the illness. But after we had the training with you, I now know how to talk with her, when to give her food and medication, and how to live with her. (IC2.F9)

6.4.2.2 Increased confidence strengthens engagement

Participation in the programme also increased participants’ confidence to engage with individuals and their families about these conditions. The problem-solving Story-bridge exercises were particularly helpful in this regard. The exercises required them to discuss strategies for engaging with a person with a mental disorder (depression or schizophrenia), and how to address their condition.

… so, relating to the story [created during the Story-bridge exercises] when the landlord came to tell me my sister looks at the same place, refuses to sit down and would look at the same direction, I remembered the story of Kojo67 [from the Story-bridge exercises]. I said, “this is what … a mental health problem is,” so I quickly ran there, and I took the lady to the psychiatry [sic] hospital. (IC2F7)

It [the Story-bridge exercises] has taught us a lot; how to approach people, how to talk to people, how to identify their problems, and then how to help them, the place we are supposed to send them, so that they can come back to [recover to lead] a normal life. (IC2.M6)

Participants suggested several strategies and, through group discussion, refined them to achieve the best possible outcomes. They acknowledged that they were familiar with most of the proposed strategies and had the capability to use them. This helped bolster their self-confidence to be proactive and engage with people with mental disorders and their families. The focus of engagement was to encourage and assist individuals and families to seek help for their affected family member as this would, in their view, assist in the

recovery of the person.

I have more knowledge that enables me to interact with members of the person’s family and explain to them how they should deal with the person to ensure his cure [recovery] and be able to live with them peacefully. (IC1.F11)

It has given me ways and a manner for me to approach a person with a mental health problem. That’s why I am saying it is good, because it’s given me strategies to use to approach a person with a mental health problem and then to help him to recover. (IC1.M3)

Similarly, participants shared concerns about the well-being of people with mental disorders, particularly after recovery. They noted that social isolation could be an impediment to leading a fulfilling life, even after recovery. They commented about the need to support and encourage people to pursue life goals after recovery. Thus, they promoted a positive attitude and behaviour by community members to provide people with mental disorders with opportunities to experience a better quality of life.

I have gotten to know that people with mental disorders, after they have come back to normal life, we shouldn’t discourage them from marrying into our family. We should employ them as our workers, we should live with them in the normal way of life as we used to do. (IC3.M20)