Abstract
Session presented on: Friday, July 26, 2013:
Purpose: Despite improved treatment, significant global health disparities exist for those living with schizophrenia. The onset of symptoms, such as halluciantions and delusions, generally predicts worsening psychotic symptomatology. Clients continue to experience repeated relapses and symptom reoccurrence, and increased numbers of clients comprise the homeless population. The purpose of this study was to understand this experience for those living with mental illness, as they live in their communities.
Methods: A qualitative, Heideggerian approach guided data collection and analysis following Diekleman, Allen & Tanner's (1989) method. Twelve individuals with schizophrenia described their experience of the onset of symptomatolgy. Implicit/explicit meanings were extracted. Hermeneutic stories were developed by the team.
Results: An overarching pattern, 'A life disrupted: Still lived,' described surviving the experience of schizophrenia and persevering on one's own terms. While symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions, revealed the loss of realistic appraisal, living with this illness was analogous to living with loss. Participants recalled the experience of'mental illness as giving them something positive in how they cared and related to others. Participants were overpowered by the 'business of getting better', and the language of nursing, a language of empowerment, was overwhelming.
Conclusion: Incorporating a different language of caring for individuals living with mental illness underscores creative strategies currently used multinationallly.
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Lead Author Affiliation
Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland, USA
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Mental Illnesses, Global, Empowerment
Recommended Citation
Jarosinski, Judith M., "A global perspective of caring for the mentally ill: Empowering individuals who live with schizophrenia" (2013). INRC (Congress). 136.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2013/presentations_2013/136
Conference Name
24th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Prague, Czech Republic
Conference Year
2013
Rights Holder
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Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
A global perspective of caring for the mentally ill: Empowering individuals who live with schizophrenia
Prague, Czech Republic
Session presented on: Friday, July 26, 2013:
Purpose: Despite improved treatment, significant global health disparities exist for those living with schizophrenia. The onset of symptoms, such as halluciantions and delusions, generally predicts worsening psychotic symptomatology. Clients continue to experience repeated relapses and symptom reoccurrence, and increased numbers of clients comprise the homeless population. The purpose of this study was to understand this experience for those living with mental illness, as they live in their communities.
Methods: A qualitative, Heideggerian approach guided data collection and analysis following Diekleman, Allen & Tanner's (1989) method. Twelve individuals with schizophrenia described their experience of the onset of symptomatolgy. Implicit/explicit meanings were extracted. Hermeneutic stories were developed by the team.
Results: An overarching pattern, 'A life disrupted: Still lived,' described surviving the experience of schizophrenia and persevering on one's own terms. While symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions, revealed the loss of realistic appraisal, living with this illness was analogous to living with loss. Participants recalled the experience of'mental illness as giving them something positive in how they cared and related to others. Participants were overpowered by the 'business of getting better', and the language of nursing, a language of empowerment, was overwhelming.
Conclusion: Incorporating a different language of caring for individuals living with mental illness underscores creative strategies currently used multinationallly.