Reconnecting with life: a grounded theory study of mental health recovery in Ireland

Abstract

Background

The concept of recovery has become central to international mental health policy and service planning. At present there, however, is no unified theory of mental health recovery available to guide clinical practice.

Aim

The aim of this study was to develop a coherent theory of recovering from mental health problems from the point of view of those recovering in Ireland.

Methods

The study was guided by classic grounded theory and based on individual interviews with 32 volunteers who had experienced mental health problems.

Results

The participants' main concern was identified as striving to reconnect with life. The core category of reconnecting with life had three interactive subcategories: (1) reconnecting with self through accepting oneself as a worthy human being capable of positive change; (2) reconnecting with others through accepting and validating interaction; (3) reconnecting with time, through getting a glimpse of positive future, coming to terms with the past, and actively shaping and executing one's present and future.

Conclusions

The study shows that accepting, validating and the hope-instilling interaction can facilitate the process of reconnecting with life and is, therefore, crucial for recovery-oriented care.

Keywords:

• recovery
• grounded theory
• subjective experiences
• interviews
• reconnecting
• mental health

Acknowledgements

The study was part of the in-house research programme of the Irish Health Research Board funded by the Department of Health and Children. The study also formed a basis of a PhD thesis submitted by the first author to Dublin City University. The second and third authors were academic supervisors of the first author.

Declaration of Interest: The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.