Table 1 Interview guide.

From: Family caregivers’ perspectives of cultural beliefs and practices towards mental illness in Zambia: an interview-based qualitative study

1. Can you please tell me about what the term mental illness mean to you?

2. Share with me what happened when your next of kin first showed signs of the illness

Probe:

 Kindly share your experiences before and after you found out?

 What you thought about the condition and how it came about

 What people said about condition?

 Treatments that were sought and why?

 What made you decide to take your next of kin to the hospital?

3. In your community/neighborhood, tell me how people view mental illness?

Probe:

 Kindly share your experiences before and after you found out?

 What you thought about the condition and how it came about

 What people said about condition?

 Treatments that were sought and why?

 What made you decide to take your next of kin to the hospital?

4. Please share with me the reactions of neighbors, relatives and other members of the community when they found out that your next of kin had mental illness

5. Give me any suggestions based on what you have been through that you think will help families caring for next of kin living with mental illness?

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