Caregiving types and psychosocial well-being of caregivers of people with mental illness in Finland.

The burden on caregivers of the mentally ill and their need for information and support have been well documented. The present study aimed to describe how different types of caregivers cope with the demands imposed by a family member's mental illness. Five distinct types of caregivers were identified according to the caregiving dimensions: supervising, anxious, coping, resigned, and activating. The results of this study show that mental health professionals should be aware of the caregiving consequences, personal meaning in caregiving, and coping strategies used in order to be able to offer appropriate interventions that optimally meet caregivers' needs.