Coping with bereavement: The experience of a Filipino who lives life using a wheelchair

ABSTRACT

Individuals with spinal cord injury are vulnerable to developing mental health issues, as their capability to participate in occupations for coping with life stressors, such as bereavement, is altered. However, the interplay of facilitators and constraints to participating in occupations is not well-known, especially in developing countries like the Philippines. The aim of this paper is to provide an understanding of how facilitators and constraints towards participation in occupation impact the mental health of an individual with spinal cord injury within the context of coping with bereavement. This study employed a single-case participatory action research method with narrative analysis. The result revealed how environmental inaccessibility and attitudes induced negative experiences of coping with bereavement, mitigable by supportive contexts. In conclusion, mental health and participating in occupations are hindered and supported by the contexts. Practitioners should diminish constraints and maximise facilitators to enhance participation in occupations and mental health.

KEYWORDS:

• Single-case participatory action research
• narrative analysis
• spinal cord injury
• Philippines
• mental health
• environmental accessibility

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank Mr. Kenneth Matthew B. Beltran for proofreading the manuscript. His willingness to offer his time is appreciated.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).