Resumo

CRUZ ORTIZ, Maribel et al. Contextual factors in the perception of severe mental illness in Mexico, guidelines for change. Index Enferm [online]. 2011, vol.20, n.4, pp.219-223. ISSN 1699-5988.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1132-12962011000300002.

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.

Palavras-chave : Gender; Primary caregiver; Mental illness; Social network; Symbolic interactionism.