Table 1 Classification of main theme and subcategories

“School as a place of refuge”: The perspective of participants who grew up with a sibling with depression regarding their high school experience

• School was a place outside the home where the adolescent participants could rest from having to cope with their sibling’s illness.

• Research participants reported behaving according to school norms in order to appease the environment and avoid conflict.

• Research participants expected the school to be aware of their family situation and to help and support them, but their expectations were not met.

“I wanted the adults at school to see me”: Relations between research participants and the school educational staff

• Participants felt that the educational staff was unaware of and did not understand their family situation.

• Many felt that the staff was distant, evasive, and arrogant.

• A few reported that their relationship with the educational staff served as a source of support in coping with their sibling’s illness

“I was afraid people would relate to me as the sibling of a crazy person”: Participants’ relationships with their peers

• Participants concealed their sibling’s illness from their peers out of fear of negative stigmas, lack of understanding and a desire to maintain their sibling’s confidentiality.

• Embarrassment and fear of social ostracism due to the sibling’s behavior.

• Sense of relief and release after telling peers about sibling’s illness.