Communal invalidation of young adults with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health issues

Abstract

This study explores how young adults with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health issues experience the challenges of belonging to their local communities. The data were generated through qualitative in-depth interviews with seven young adult service users, six of whom were interviewed twice. The qualitative data analysis resulted in three overarching themes: the need to accept one’s own life and the structures surrounding it; being caught between conflicting social worlds; and moral fumbling in choices and actions. Using an empirical study, we suggest that a process of ‘communal invalidation’ operates through which young adults in the community are socially defined as inadequate. This invalidation serves as a formidable barrier to their recovery.

Keywords:

• Belonging
• community
• social model
• substance abuse
• mental health
• in-depth interviews

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Professor Hesook Suzie Kim (Adjunct Professor, University of Southeast Norway, Institute of Health and Social Sciences and Professor Emerita, University of Rhode Island College of Nursing) and Professor Larry Davidson (Director of the Program for Recovery and Community Health, School of Medicine and Institution for Social and Policy Studies, Yale University) for critically reading the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.