Contextual factors in the perception of severe mental illness in Mexico, guidelines for change [Factores contextuales en la percepción de la enfermedad mental severa en México, pautas para el cambio]

Under the perspective of symbolic interactionism analyzes how environmental factors influence the relationship of care provided by primary caregivers of people with severe mental illness in Mexico. The care is restricted to the family given the limited development of a social network to provide the necessary support to promote social integration. This situation has contributed the cultural naturalization of the roles that women plays as natural born caregivers and people with mental illness as a dependent person, consequently, encouraging the acceptance of alternatives such as institutionalization. The display of care as individual responsibility benefits the vulnerable social, emotional and economic situation, in which are the primary caregivers and people with mental illness in this study. © 2012 Fundación Index.

Gender; Mental illness; Primary caregiver; Social network; Symbolic interactionism

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