Many aspects of caregiving can be relentless and challenging. Occupational therapy clinical implications aimed at supporting mothers and their children are discussed.

Background: Although social relationships have been studied regarding psychotic illness and developmental stages, little is known about the social experiences of adolescents and young adults with recent-onset psychosis. Aims: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore young people's experiences of social relationships during the recovery phase of first-episode psychosis in order to facilitate their social relations. Method: Six young people recovering from a first episode of psychosis and attending a Recovery Group Program in an early psychosis treatment facility were interviewed regarding their subjective experiences of social relationships. Results: Five themes highlighted participants' experiences of losing contact with friends they had prior to their illness, valuing being with people who are understanding, and receiving support from family members and other young people who had also experienced psychosis. The participants also described feeling and being perceived as different, yet building new relationships in the recovery phase of their illness. Conclusion: The findings suggest the need for psychosocial programs that provide young people with environments that support them to cope with the direct implications of psychosis and to engage in behaviors and activities typical of young adults, thereby supporting the integrative processes following the onset of psychosis. Declaration of Interest: None.

Aim: Sleep problems are more common among children with disabilities. Mothers are likely to provide night-time care. Mothers of children with disabilities are known to experience high levels of stress and mental health issues compared with other mothers. Relationships between a child's sleep problems, and chronic maternal sleep interruption and subjective health have not been researched. Method: Cross-sectional mail-out survey with follow-up phone call was used. Instruments included the Short Form 36 version 2 and instruments that measured maternal, child and sleep characteristics. Descriptive statistics examined characteristics of participants and correlation, and Kruskal-Wallis test was used to determine important maternal and child characteristics around sleep issues. Results: All mothers (n = 152) cared for a school-aged child with a developmental disability including autism spectrum disorder (n = 94) and cerebral palsy (n = 29). Nearly half (49%) of the mothers were awoken more than 4 nights/week. Three distinct sleep groups were identified: no sleep interruption; sleep interruption once/night, 4 nights/week; and more frequent interruption. Mothers experiencing the most sleep interruptions reported significantly poorer health on six Short Form 36 version 2 dimensions. Night-time caregiving was associated with higher child care needs rather than children's diagnoses. Mothers who experienced more sleep interruption also participated less in health-promoting activities (active leisure, time with socially supportive others) during the day. Conclusion: This study identifies a group of mothers with chronic sleep interruption and demonstrates related poor maternal subjective health and lower participation in health activities that may service to support maternal health. Mothers with children with the highest daytime care needs also experienced high night-time care responsibilities. Changes to service provision are recommended to identify mothers in need of additional supports and services.

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This paper describes the procedures undertaken in a qualitative study that used nurses' stories to examine the influence of Gestalt therapy training on the professional practice of psychiatric nurses. The paper places narrative research methodologies within a nursing context before introducing narrative inquiry, specifically narrative analysis methodology. Procedures used in the study are subsequently described in sufficient detail to serve as a guide for novice researchers interested in undertaking a narrative analysis study. An exemplar of a storied outcome is provided to evidence the product of the narrative analysis research process. The paper concludes with reflections on the importance of articulating the process of narrative analysis as a means of developing interest and competence in narrative research, and using nurses' stories as a means of exploring, understanding, and communicating nursing practice.