The experience of inequality and its impact on mental illness – thematic analysis of patients’ lived experiences admitted to secure mental health hospital

The experience of inequality and its impact on mental illness – thematic analysis of patients’ lived experiences admitted to secure mental health hospital Kristina Brenisin, Aile Trumm, Elizabeth Akinwande, Kieran Breen The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. ahead-of-print, No. ahead-of-print, pp.- The concept of inequality refers to being treated unfairly in society and its impact on mental illness has been explored primarily using a quantitative research approach. Patients’ lived experiences of inequalities prior to their admission to a secure care setting need to be addressed with a higher priority as they can serve to improve our understanding of the factors underlying the development of mental illness at a personal level. The aim of this study is to explore participant’s views on whether for them the experience of inequality is associated with the development of mental illness. A qualitative study, using a thematic analytical approach, was carried out to explore patients’ lived experiences of inequalities. A total of 11 participants, who were receiving treatment in a UK secure mental health hospital, were recruited into this study. The concept of inequality was explored using semi-structured interviews. Data showed that patients had experienced a variety of inequalities which had negative impact on their mental health. Four main themes were identified from thematic textual analysis – abuse and its impact, a lack of suppor...
Source: Journal of Forensic Practice - Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Source Type: research