What is participation? A story of mental illness, metaphor, & everyday occupation

The aim of this study is to explore experiences and enactment of participation through daily occupations. It extends the literature addressing the concept of participation, shedding light on participation as enacted through daily occupations among individuals living with mental illness. The authors attempt to provide a venue for persons with mental illness to be heard, while also juxtaposing the complexity of socio‐political tensions around participating in society. Method: Narrative interviews and participant observations were conducted over a 4‐month period. In keeping with narrative analyses, the analysis in this study is based on data from one participant that aims to draw together the storied material from multiple interviews and observations into one coherent story. Findings: The findings are presented as a story where metaphors such as “balancing the boat” and “participation as if in the Olympic Games” were used to describe experiences and possibilities around participation. The findings enrich current understandings of the complexity surrounding participating in society through daily occupations when living with mental illness.

Key Words:

• Narrative research
• Mental health
• Culture
• Social interaction
• Participation