{
  "abstract": "Informal carers play a vital role in supporting individuals with mental health difficulties. To provide an overarching synthesis of available evidence, this umbrella review aimed to synthesise qualitative review evidence on informal carers’ (including family members, friends, or other unpaid supporters) experiences of mental health services regarding supporting the individuals with mental health difficulties they care for and seeking support for their own wellbeing. Following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology, a meta-aggregative umbrella review was conducted. Five databases were searched up to 9th May 2025: CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycInfo, the Cochrane Library, and Epistemonikos. The quality of primary systematic reviews was assessed using a framework adapted from the work of SmithBattle and colleagues. Findings were extracted from eligible reviews and aggregated into categories, from which higher-order synthesised findings were developed. Twelve eligible qualitative reviews were identified covering a wide range of mental health service contexts. Six synthesised findings were identified: (1) emotional complexity in the caregiving journey; (2) recognition and coping with their loved ones’ mental health difficulties; (3) multiple barriers to accessing mental health support; (4) persistent responsibilities and roles in supporting service users; (5) complex experiences of engaging with services; and (6) relational strain during the caregiving process. While some carers reported positive experiences, most described exclusion, emotional distress, and structural barriers to support. This review highlights the urgent need for mental health services to recognise, involve, and support informal carers.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xiaoye Liu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Phoebe Barnett"
    },
    {
      "name": "Patrick Nyikavaranda"
    },
    {
      "name": "Laura Burley"
    },
    {
      "name": "Brynmor Lloyd-Evans"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1hr3hm71tnawj.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pmen.0000740",
  "fulltext_url": "https://journals.plos.org/mentalhealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmen.0000740",
  "id": "1hr3hm71tnawj",
  "issns": [
    "2837-8156"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://journals.plos.org/mentalhealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmen.0000740",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "3203|Family Caregiving in Mental Illness"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Neuroscience/Cognitive science/Cognition/Decision making"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Neuroscience/Cognitive science/Cognitive psychology/Decision making"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Psychology/Cognitive psychology/Decision making"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Psychology/Emotions"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Mental health and psychiatry"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Mental health and psychiatry/Mental health therapies"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Mental health and psychiatry/Psychoses"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Database and informatics methods/Database searching"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Research assessment/Systematic reviews"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Research design/Qualitative studies"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Psychology/Cognitive psychology/Decision making"
    ],
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      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Psychology/Emotions"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7222099485",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/mentalhealth/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pmen.0000740&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-15",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1hr3hm71tnawj.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:23Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pmen.0000740",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://journals.plos.org/mentalhealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmen.0000740"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:neuroscience",
      "subfield": "neuroscience"
    },
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "plos:mental health and psychiatry",
      "subfield": "psychiatry"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Informal carers’ experiences of mental health services regarding supporting those they care for and getting support for their own wellbeing: A systematic umbrella review of qualitative evidence",
  "title_text": "Informal carers’ experiences of mental health services regarding supporting those they care for and getting support for their own wellbeing: A systematic umbrella review of qualitative evidence",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:23Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1hr3hm71tnawj",
  "venue": "PLOS Mental Health",
  "versions": []
}