Resilient Caregivers: Exploring Mental Health Challenges and Support Systems for Families Caring for Individuals with Special Needs
A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 552
Special Issue Editors
Interests: mental health; community healthcare; family healthcare; intellectual disabilities; vulnerable communities
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: developmental psychopathology; developmental language and speech disorders; intellectual disabilities; genetic syndromes; mental health; well being; inclusion
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Families who provide care to individuals with special needs, including those with chronic health conditions, developmental disabilities, and mental health disorders, often face unique and multifaceted challenges. These challenges can significantly impact the mental health and well-being of the caregivers themselves, as well as the overall family dynamic. Research has shown that caregivers frequently experience high levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues due to the demanding nature of their caregiving roles [1]. Additionally, the emotional and physical toll of caregiving can affect their quality of life, their relationships, and even their physical health [2]. Despite the growing recognition of these issues, there remains a substantial gap in comprehensive research and evidence-based interventions tailored to support the mental health of these caregivers. This proposed Special Issue aims to address this gap through collating high-quality research and reviews that explore the mental health challenges faced by families caring for people with special needs, the factors that contribute to these challenges, and the interventions and support systems that can mitigate these effects.
References
- Pinquart, M.; Sörensen, S. Differences between caregivers and noncaregivers in psychological health and physical health: a meta-analysis. Psychol. Aging 2003, 18, 250.
- Schulz, R.; Sherwood, P.R. Physical and mental health effects of family caregiving. J. Soc. Work. Educ. 2008, 44 (Suppl. S3), 105–113.
Dr. Alexandros Argyriadis
Dr. Dimitra V. Katsarou
Dr. Agathi Argyriadi
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- caregiving
- special needs
- mental health
- caregiver well-being
- family dynamics
- stress and burnout
- evidence-based interventions
- flow theory
- support systems
