Parents with mental illness : (re)negotiating social roles, balancing responsibilities and managing risk

This Master s thesis consists of two parts. The first is a literature review and reflection on the research process. The other part is a scientific article (Jones, M., Pietilä, I., Joronen, K., Simpson, W., Gray, S. & Kaunonen, M.: The varied voices of parents with mental illness a discourse analysis of focus group discussions). In the literature review the main themes of the study are discussed in more depth. These include mental illness and the ways in which it is portrayed and perceived in society; experiences of stigma; ideas of good parenting and the emphasis social and health care services place on risk and risk management. Much of the previous research regarding parental mental illness focuses on the intergenerational transmission of illness and potential consequences of illness on children. Parental interpretations and experiences have not been as widely studied. Stigma and the fear of stigma can limit the willingness for parents to share information. There are also no requirements for mental health services to gather information on the parenting status of service users which can also limit the support families receive. The article aims to explore the interpretations parents with mental illness have of the dominant discourses, which tend to focus on their deficits. The data was gathered through focus group interviews conducted in Finland and Scotland, with 19 participants. Methods of critical discourse analysis were used in data analysis and four larger themes identified from the data are explored in more depth. The study discusses some of the challenges parents with mental illness can face, but also the ways in which they attempt to manage difficult situations and remain responsible parents to their children