Exploring romantic need as part of mental health social care practice

Forrester-Jones, Rachel, Dixon, Jeremy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0656-5646 and Jaynes, Beth 2023. Exploring romantic need as part of mental health social care practice. Disability and Society 10.1080/09687599.2023.2222900

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Abstract

The ability to form strong relationships is viewed as central to mental health recovery. Few studies have explored the experiences of people with mental health problems in forming or maintaining romantic relationships. Our study addressed this gap through conducting focus groups with ten people with mental health problems, six carers and six professionals. All three participant groups considered romantic relationships to be important aspects of wellbeing and lamented this gap in the lives of people with mental health problems. Service users and carers perceived the physicality and outward trappings of ‘being mentally ill,’ including treatment side effects and unemployment to impact negatively on romantic relationships. Service users reported self and societal stigma as a major barrier to relationships. Carers and professionals focused on vulnerability and risks. Professionals stated that they rarely supported people with mental health problems with their romantic relationships and were uneasy about discussing sexual intimacy.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis Group
ISSN:	0968-7599
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	5 April 2024
Date of Acceptance:	1 June 2023
Last Modified:	10 Apr 2024 09:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/167765

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