A qualitative exploration of a family self-help mental health program in El Salvador

Table 1 Participant demographics and selection criteria

Users	Family caregivers	Professionals
Age range: 21–45 years (average: 37 years) Gender: two males, one female (three persons total) Illness: all users suffered from schizophrenia Selection criteria: length of time participating in program, illness stability, and ability to communicate thoughts and feelings	Age range: 26–62 years (average: 37 years) Gender: no males, four females (four persons total) Relationship to persons with mental Illness: mother, daughter, and two siblings Selection criteria: length of time participating in program, emotional stability, and breadth of program participation	Age range: 37–53 years (average: 46 years) Gender: two males, one female (three persons total) Principal investigator: American white male, program founder, family caregiver, 17 years of program experience in El Salvador Salvadorian professionals: male psychologist and female psychiatrist Selection criteria: length of time participating in program and maximum variation of program role

Participants ranged from 21 to 62 in age, six were females, four were males, and all three users had the illness of schizophrenia while the family caregivers likewise had loved ones who suffered from schizophrenia, although the selection for this illness was not purposive but rather indicates the preponderance among program participants of this illness type. Participants were selected for stability, ability to communicate, and breadth and length of time participating in the program

ISSN: 1752-4458