Background Treatment of post-pasung (physical restraint) patients with mental disorders has become a new problem in Indonesia in its effort to free the country from the physical restraint programme. Problems emerge when the patient returns to the family and society at large, and families that refuse to allow the patient to come back home risk the possibility that the patient may eventually become a psychotic vagrant.

Aims To determine the appearance of families taking care of patients with mental disorders post-pasung.

Method This study was qualitative research using a case study approach. The number of participants from six families was selected by purposive sampling. Collecting data was done by in-depth interview, and analysed thematically using Colaizzi steps.

Results The results showed that families coping when taking care of patients with mental disorders post-pasung comprise seven themes. The seven themes are formed by four categories, 19 sub-themes and 32 sections.

Discussion The appearance of coping was the overall description of coping in the form of strategic process stages, the support of coping and meaning for what the families feel when they are taking care of a patient with a mental disorder post-pasung. The appearance of coping showed how the family chooses the mechanisms of coping to deal with stress and crisis.

Conclusion The coping mechanisms that families use when taking care of a patient with a mental disorder post-pasung were formed through stages of a strategic process. Families need coping strengthening interventions to provide optimal care for patients with mental disorders post-pasung.