“Heaven and Hell on Earth” A critical discourse analysis of religious terms in Norwegian autobiographies describing personal experience of mental health problems

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 781-796
Author(s):  
Anders J.W. Andersen ◽  
Ingrid Kristine Hasund ◽  
Inger Beate Larsen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Critical Discourse

Detained – what's my choice? Part 1: Discussion

2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 172-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glenn Roberts ◽  
Eluned Dorkins ◽  
James Wooldridge ◽  
Elaine Hewis
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Personal Responsibility ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Psychiatric Services ◽  
Psychiatric Practice ◽  
Personal Recovery ◽  
Collaborative Dialogue

Choice, responsibility, recovery and social inclusion are concepts guiding the ‘modernisation’ and redesign of psychiatric services. Each has its advocates and detractors, and at the deep end of mental health/psychiatric practice they all interact. In the context of severe mental health problems choice and social inclusion are often deeply compromised; they are additionally difficult to access when someone is detained and significant aspects of personal responsibility have been temporarily taken over by others. One view is that you cannot recover while others are in control. We disagree and believe that it is possible to work in a recovery-oriented way in all service settings. This series of articles represents a collaborative dialogue between providers and consumers of compulsory psychiatric services and expert commentators. We worked together, reflecting on the literature and our own professional and personal experience to better understand how choice can be worked with as a support for personal recovery even in circumstances of psychiatric detention. We were particularly interested to consider whether and how detention and compulsion could be routes to personal recovery. We offer both the process of our co-working and our specific findings as part of a continuing dialogue on these difficult issues.

“Walking wounded or wounded healer?” Does personal experience of mental health problems help or hinder mental health practice? A review of the literature

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Conchar ◽  
Julie Repper
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Wounded Healer ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – A systematic review of the literature on “wounded healers” was undertaken to identify, define and interpret the term and its application within the mental health environment. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Eight key medical/social sciences databases were interrogated. In total, 835 papers were identified in the systematic database search and abstracts were obtained for each to determine whether they met the inclusion criteria. In total, 237 sources were retrieved for critical reading, to assess relevance and value to the review, and 125 documents were subsequently included. Through thematic analysis a number of themes and sub themes were identified Findings – The archetypal image of the wounded healer originates in ancient mythology and crosses many cultures. There are many interpretations and applications of the belief that having healed their own wounds a person is in a better position to heal others, however, the evidence to support this is not so robust. Of more direct relevance to contemporary practice are reports of supporting staff with mental health problems to make a contribution to mental health services, most recently through the employment of peer support workers. Originality/value – As peer support workers are increasingly being employed in mental health services, it is helpful to consider the many existing staff who bring personal experience of mental health problems. This paper explores the evidence that their lived experience makes a difference to the way that they work and considers their employment support needs.

scholarly journals The Roots Of Practice: An Anti-Colonial Critical Discourse Analysis Of Western Nature-Based Mental Health Therapies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Chui
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Critical Discourse ◽  
Therapeutic Modalities ◽  
Analysis Methodology ◽  
Mental Health Practices ◽  
And Coping

<div>This study seeks to explore how nature-based therapies are understood in Western “mental health” practices. Specifically, horticultural and equine-assisted therapeutic models are examined for discursive themes tied to mind-body connections, attachment and healing. Additionally, texts used to teach specific therapeutic modalities are examined to further explore common concepts such as mindfulness and coping. In conducting a review of relevant literature, similar themes were revealed which contributed to a base knowledge for understanding the discourse around nature-based therapies. Engaging in an anti-colonial theoretical framework and a modified critical discourse analysis methodology, this qualitative study explores the research question: “What are the discourses which inform Western nature-based therapies?” Ultimately, this study aims to develop a more thorough understanding of how these therapies are linked to Indigenous approaches, how practices may be appropriated and used by Western practitioners, and the shift in social work towards more wholistic therapeutic practices. </div>

scholarly journals The Roots Of Practice: An Anti-Colonial Critical Discourse Analysis Of Western Nature-Based Mental Health Therapies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Chui
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Critical Discourse ◽  
Therapeutic Modalities ◽  
Analysis Methodology ◽  
Mental Health Practices ◽  
And Coping

<div>This study seeks to explore how nature-based therapies are understood in Western “mental health” practices. Specifically, horticultural and equine-assisted therapeutic models are examined for discursive themes tied to mind-body connections, attachment and healing. Additionally, texts used to teach specific therapeutic modalities are examined to further explore common concepts such as mindfulness and coping. In conducting a review of relevant literature, similar themes were revealed which contributed to a base knowledge for understanding the discourse around nature-based therapies. Engaging in an anti-colonial theoretical framework and a modified critical discourse analysis methodology, this qualitative study explores the research question: “What are the discourses which inform Western nature-based therapies?” Ultimately, this study aims to develop a more thorough understanding of how these therapies are linked to Indigenous approaches, how practices may be appropriated and used by Western practitioners, and the shift in social work towards more wholistic therapeutic practices. </div>

scholarly journals Sexual violence and the mental health system: A critical discourse analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Getchell
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Health System ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Mental Health System ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Critical Discourse ◽  
Health Service Providers ◽  
Broad Term

Sexual violence is a relevant topic in the Canadian mental health system. However, the dominant bio-medical understanding of mental health can be harmful to survivors. This study is focused on analyzing how sexual violence is discussed within the bio-medical mental health system. The bio-medical understanding of mental health is one that conceptualizes “mental illness” is brain disease and emphasizes pharmacological treatment. Sexual violence is a broad term that describes any violence, physical or psychological, carried out through sexual means or by targeting sexuality. Critical Discourse Analysis is used in this study to find and analyze discourses in the bio-medical mental health system found in three interviews with mental health service providers. The discourses that emerged were as follows: 1. people were “boiled down” to their diagnoses or experiences of sexual violence; 2. professionalism; 3. being funneled into “streams of care”; 4. what makes someone credible; and 5. who “gets it”. The MRP concludes with a discussion of implications of these findings for social work.

scholarly journals Settlers, Sell-outs and Sons of the Soil: The Creation of Aliens in Zimbabwe and the Challenge for Higher Education

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Munyaradzi Hwami
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Citizenship Education ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
Critical Discourse ◽  
Great Zimbabwe ◽  
To Come

The contemporary colonial world is witnessing struggles for domination and existence that have led to exclusion of some groups on the basis of parameters defined by the powerful. This contribution observes practices and policies of belonging and exclusion developing in Zimbabwe and argues that higher education should take the lead in discussing and proposing citizenship education that would produce cosmopolitan patriots, responsible and tolerant citizens. The discussion is a critical discourse analysis of dominant colonial forces of authoritarian nationalism and neoliberalism supplemented by personal experience and engagement with students and faculty at the Great Zimbabwe University. What has been observed is the failure of civil society and state led programmes in this endeavour and the honours rests with higher education institutions to develop citizenship education rooted in ideals that critique hegemonic discourses. This demands a change in perspectival foci and this study advances the adoption of anti-colonial liberationist perspectives as one of the options if an end to classification of citizens as aliens and patriots is to come to an end.

scholarly journals ‘He’s my mate you see’: a critical discourse analysis of the therapeutic role of companion animals in the social networks of people with a diagnosis of severe mental illness

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 326-334
Author(s):  
Helen Brooks ◽  
Kelly Rushton ◽  
Karina Lovell ◽  
Rebecca McNaughton ◽  
Anne Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Critical Discourse ◽  
Personal Network

There is increasing recognition of the role pets play in the management of mental health conditions. Evidence suggests that pets promote social interaction and provide secure and intimate relationships which support the management of symptoms. This paper aimed to extend this evidence by exploring the phenomenological understanding of relationships and relationality with companion animals as therapeutic agents in the context of people’s wider social networks.A qualitative study was undertaken incorporating 35 interviews with 12 participants with a diagnosis of severe mental illness who identified a pet as being important in the management of mental health. Participants took part in three in-depth interviews centred on ego network mapping over a 12-month period (baseline, 6 and 12 months). A critical discourse analysis examined therapeutic relationships with pets in relation to mental health and compared these to other types of support over time. Summative discourse analyses were combined with a cross-case thematic analysis to look for commonalities and differences across individuals.Compared with interactions with other therapeutic agents, relationships with pets were free from the obligations and complexities associated with other types of network members and provided an extension and reinforcement to an individual’s sense of self which militated against the negative experiences associated with mental illness. Relationships with human network members were more variable in terms of consistency and capacity to manage demands (eg, network members requiring support themselves) and the emotions of others associated with fluctuations in mental health.This study adds weight to research supporting the inclusion of companion animals in the lexicon of mental health self-management through the therapeutic value attributed to them by participants within a wide personal network of support. The findings point to how consideration might usefully be given to how relationships with companion animals can be incorporated into healthcare planning and delivery.

scholarly journals Theological Reflection on Suffering: Overcoming Anxiety and Depression during the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-12
Author(s):  
Dalmacito A. Cordero
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Theological Reflection ◽  
Mental Health Recovery ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Human Suffering ◽  
Theological Concept

The COVID-19 pandemic can cause mental health problems such as anxiety and depression which can be considered as forms of human suffering. This article explores the theological concept of suffering as reflected specifically in John Paul II’s apostolic letter Salvifici Doloris. Two significant themes emerged from the document which highlights suffering—part of humanity’s transcendence and that it is beneficial for the sufferer. Utilizing the personal experience of the author as the main source of data, overcoming suffering can be attained using the same themes. These themes are then translated and applied into a concrete plan of action which are actualized regularly, namely: acceptance, regular conversation with loved ones, and meditation. Habitual practice of such actions contributed greatly to the mental health recovery from such a crisis.

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