How I Got Here: Personal Narratives of Youth Mental Health Difficulties and Recovery

Abstract

New Zealand is currently facing high rates of youth mental health difficulties and suicide. While there is growing recognition that young people can offer useful insight into their own experiences, there is a paucity of research exploring youth perspectives on what is known as "recovery" from serious mental health problems. This study sought to address this research gap by conducting narrative style interviews with 12 young people who self-identified as having once experienced mental health difficulties, but now being some way along the recovery process. The interview data was analysed using both narrative and thematic methods. The narrative analysis identified five different types of narratives participants used to describe their experiences. This variation was largely based on different causal explanations that young people utilised to account for their difficulties. These explanations appeared to shape their subsequent recovery and also had significant implications for their sense of self. The thematic analysis identified themes relating to the way participants described the role of professional support in their recovery. While young people described it being difficult to engage with mental health services overall, they also found positive relationships and specific interventions helpful. Both analyses highlighted participants' emphasis on self-responsibility and agency, yet described significant limitations on their ability to successfully exert this. Overall, these findings emphasised the personal, active nature of recovery. While many of the recovery processes and concepts identified in adult literature are relevant to youth recovery, young people also face unique challenges. These related to young people's relative dependence on both familial and formal systems of care, limitations on their agency and emphasis on identity development during this period of life. These findings suggest that health professionals should attempt to work together in partnership with the young people that they are supporting, to create an individualised approach to their care. They should also be aware of the significant impact these experiences can have on a young person's identity. Significant changes to the mental health system may be required to enable clinicians to work in this personalised, recovery focused way.