Exploring the perception of family caregivers of mentally ill patients about mental illness in the Bolgatanga Municipality, Upper East Region, Ghana

Background Mental illness remains a global public health concern, affecting individuals and their families across diverse cultural contexts. The perceptions of family caregivers about mental illness are essential as they form the foundation for stigma and discrimination. However, little is known about the perceptions of family caregivers on mental illness in the Ghanaian context. Objective To explore the perceptions of family caregivers of mentally ill patients about mental illness in the Bolgatanga Municipality, Ghana. Methods This qualitative exploratory study was conducted in the Bolgatanga Municipality. Fifteen family caregivers of mentally ill patients were purposively sampled. Individual in-depth interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analysed through an inductive approach using NVivo 12 pro. Findings: The perceptions of family caregivers about mental illness were categorized under three emergent themes including (1) causes of mental illness, (2) symptoms of mental illness, and (3) stigmatization and discrimination. They perceived the symptoms of mental illness as unusual behaviours, sleep disturbances, paranoid beliefs, and hallucinations. The family caregivers also recounted experiences of stigmatization and discrimination directed towards both the mentally ill individuals and themselves as caregivers. Conclusion The findings highlight the complex interplay of cultural, social, and individual factors shaping the perception of mental illness among family caregivers. Addressing the diverse perceptions of the causes and symptoms while tackling stigmatization can collectively contribute to improved mental health service utilization and outcomes.