Experiences of housing support in everyday life for persons with schizophrenia and the role of the media from a societal perspective

Background: The mental health-care system in Sweden, as in many other counties, has its main focus on the reduction of psychiatric symptoms and the prevention of relapses. People diagnosed with schizophrenia often have significant health issues and experience reduced well-being in everyday life. The...

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Main Authors: Henrika Jormfeldt, Malin Hallén
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2016-05-01
Series:International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ijqhw.net/index.php/qhw/article/view/30571/46454
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spelling doaj-d97b9169ea4a4b1b861841d118b224b62020-11-24T21:25:05ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being1748-26312016-05-011101410.3402/qhw.v11.3057130571Experiences of housing support in everyday life for persons with schizophrenia and the role of the media from a societal perspectiveHenrika Jormfeldt0Malin Hallén1 School of Health and Welfare, University of Halmstad, Halmstad, Sweden School of Health and Welfare, University of Halmstad, Halmstad, SwedenBackground: The mental health-care system in Sweden, as in many other counties, has its main focus on the reduction of psychiatric symptoms and the prevention of relapses. People diagnosed with schizophrenia often have significant health issues and experience reduced well-being in everyday life. The social imaginary of mental illness as an imbalance of the brain has implications concerning general attitudes in society. The news media are an important source of information on psychiatric disorders and have an important role in cultivating public perceptions and stigma. News media can contribute to the mental illness stigma and place individuals with mental illnesses at risk of not receiving adequate care and support. The aim of this preliminary study was to describe users’ experiences of housing support in everyday life. Results: The results revealed three themes of housing support, which were needed, but frequently insufficiently fulfilled in the municipality. The three themes were: “Support to Practice Healthy Routines in Daily Life,” “Support to Shape Meaningful Contents in Everyday Life,” and “Support to Meet Needs of Integrity and Respect.” Conclusions: The findings support previous studies arguing that current health care and housing support fails to meet basic needs and may lead to significant and unnecessary health risks. Further investigation is needed regarding the links between attitudes to mental illness in society and political and financial principles for health care and housing support for persons with schizophrenia. Further research is needed regarding the role of the media in policymaking concerning health promotion interventions for people diagnosed with schizophrenia.http://www.ijqhw.net/index.php/qhw/article/view/30571/46454Housing supportmedianarrativespersons diagnosed with schizophreniasocial sciences
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Henrika Jormfeldt
Malin Hallén
spellingShingle Henrika Jormfeldt
Malin Hallén
Experiences of housing support in everyday life for persons with schizophrenia and the role of the media from a societal perspective
International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
Housing support
media
narratives
persons diagnosed with schizophrenia
social sciences
author_facet Henrika Jormfeldt
Malin Hallén
author_sort Henrika Jormfeldt
title Experiences of housing support in everyday life for persons with schizophrenia and the role of the media from a societal perspective
title_short Experiences of housing support in everyday life for persons with schizophrenia and the role of the media from a societal perspective
title_full Experiences of housing support in everyday life for persons with schizophrenia and the role of the media from a societal perspective
title_fullStr Experiences of housing support in everyday life for persons with schizophrenia and the role of the media from a societal perspective
title_full_unstemmed Experiences of housing support in everyday life for persons with schizophrenia and the role of the media from a societal perspective
title_sort experiences of housing support in everyday life for persons with schizophrenia and the role of the media from a societal perspective
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
series International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
issn 1748-2631
publishDate 2016-05-01
description Background: The mental health-care system in Sweden, as in many other counties, has its main focus on the reduction of psychiatric symptoms and the prevention of relapses. People diagnosed with schizophrenia often have significant health issues and experience reduced well-being in everyday life. The social imaginary of mental illness as an imbalance of the brain has implications concerning general attitudes in society. The news media are an important source of information on psychiatric disorders and have an important role in cultivating public perceptions and stigma. News media can contribute to the mental illness stigma and place individuals with mental illnesses at risk of not receiving adequate care and support. The aim of this preliminary study was to describe users’ experiences of housing support in everyday life. Results: The results revealed three themes of housing support, which were needed, but frequently insufficiently fulfilled in the municipality. The three themes were: “Support to Practice Healthy Routines in Daily Life,” “Support to Shape Meaningful Contents in Everyday Life,” and “Support to Meet Needs of Integrity and Respect.” Conclusions: The findings support previous studies arguing that current health care and housing support fails to meet basic needs and may lead to significant and unnecessary health risks. Further investigation is needed regarding the links between attitudes to mental illness in society and political and financial principles for health care and housing support for persons with schizophrenia. Further research is needed regarding the role of the media in policymaking concerning health promotion interventions for people diagnosed with schizophrenia.
topic Housing support
media
narratives
persons diagnosed with schizophrenia
social sciences
url http://www.ijqhw.net/index.php/qhw/article/view/30571/46454
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AT malinhallen experiencesofhousingsupportineverydaylifeforpersonswithschizophreniaandtheroleofthemediafromasocietalperspective
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