Dr Amanda Cole's research investigated the perspectives of family members living with someone with depression.
Previous research has focused on individuals with depression, however there is an estimated 3.7 million Australians – 15 per cent of the population – considered informal caregivers to people with mental illness.
Our new research investigated the perspectives of family members living with someone with depression.
We asked them to tell their stories and explain what 'living well' meant to them.
We found family members still enjoy a good quality of life, and live well, even though their idea of living well may look vastly different to what societal norms determine living well looks like in other families.
Their lives were significantly impacted by depression, and they experienced more peaks and troughs than other families. But living well is subjective.
These families knew that it may not be good at times, but worked through the challenges and distress, and showed endurance, survival, and persistence.
Their strength shone through in their stories in a positive way and family members described hope and healing through their experiences.
An ongoing cycle
The findings highlighted the fundamental and profound cyclical impact of the significant psychosocial adaptations and modification to roles, goals, and relationships, that were necessary for families to live well.
Families needed to make significant changes to the way they imagined their life would be, including in their relationships, their work, and what they wanted to achieve in life.
But there were many positives found.
Family members highlighted that living and surviving through the burdensome times can bring positive and transformative change.
Many found inner strength, were hopeful for the future, and found meaning in daily life, making space for depression so that they and the family unit could live well.
Fluctuating depressive symptoms brought disruption, change, adaptation, challenges, acceptance, gains and hope.
Although seemingly paradoxical in terms of societal understandings of living well, this process was described as the living well experience with depression as a family member.
Family members are the heroes of their stories, bringing transformative change and hope, commitment, and courage to live well making space for depression in everyday life.
What 'living well' might mean for families living with depression
Previous research has tended to focus on the negative impacts and harmful effects for the family when a family member has depression.
However, little attention has been given to family strengths and resilience and how family members perceive what living well might look like and what they do to achieve that.
While this research revealed the significant impact depression has on a family unit, it also found families reported leading enjoyable and meaningful lives.
This study proposed a new overarching narrative of living well for family caregivers of those living with depression.
For family members this new paradigm of living well is one which has the potential to shape the stories told by some family members as an alternative to living with depression.
A living well narrative is one that recognises the burden, distress, and challenges of living with depression, but also incorporates personal growth, positive change, and unexpected opportunities for the future.
It is hoped that societal perceptions of what living well means and what constitutes a normal experience for families living with depression will be reframed, thus moving in some way to reduce negative assumptions.
Caring for the whole family
The findings showed that the entire family's needs should be considered when someone is treated for depression.
The study highlighted the need for health professionals including nurses, mental health nurses, nurse practitioners, GPs and psychological counselling services to adopt an integrated way of examining a family’s dynamics, strengths and concerns around health and illness, and consider the impact of depression on whole-of-family health.
As a researcher and a registered nurse, it is my hope that the practice of nursing encompasses more than simply the patient/client, and embraces the whole family, offering everyone affected a way forward.
However, all health professionals, not just nurses, should have a conversation with family members to see what their needs are when a family member has been diagnosed with depression.
This can provide the opportunity to refer or provide information to family members that will offer support, potentially enhance individual wellbeing, and promote family functioning.
Read more about Dr Amanda Cole's research.
