Our lives in three parts: an autoethnographic account of two undergraduates and their respective psychiatric careers

Voyce, Andrew; Carson, Jerome

doi:10.1108/mhsi-07-2020-0045

Cited by 12 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Andrew Voyce, a User Researcher, has looked at aspects of his own life history in three autoethnographic accounts. Firstly, he contrasted his “career” in psychiatry, as that of a “revolving door mental patient”, with Jerome Carson’s career in psychiatry, as a Clinical Psychologist (Voyce and Carson, 2020). Patrick Hopkinson, Voyce and Carson then contrasted Voyce’s recovery with that of the 60s musician Syd Barrett (Hopkinson et al , 2021).…”

Section: Next Stepsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“You can end up in a happy place” (Voyce): a role for positive autoethnography

Gonot-Schoupinsky

Weeks

Carson

2023

MHSI

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Purpose The purpose of this opinion piece is to present a case for the potential of positive autoethnography (PosAE) as a new autoethnographic approach. Design/methodology/approach This work resulted from on-going discussions between the authors as to the practicalities and benefits of associating the qualitative approach of autoethnography with the field of positive psychology. Findings PosAE is proposed to encourage writers to actively reflect on the importance for themselves, and their readers, of including positive narrative elements, prospective visions and exploratory trajectories in their work. Research limitations/implications This research builds on existing research that has included positive psychology in autoethnography. As positive psychology is grounded in empirical research, the authors are suggesting that PosAE is allied to pragmatic autoethnography. Practical implications PosAE offers to facilitate positive thought, affect and strategies that could improve well-being. For example, some people struggling with serious health issues, and those helping them, may find it useful for articulating conditions and envisioning, even experiencing, positive change. Social implications With so many lives impacted by mental health issues globally, and with rapidly changing societies struggling to provide stability and purpose, an autoethnography that provides tools such as PERMA (Positive emotions, Engagement, Positive Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishments/Achievements) to communicate the positive seems timely. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time the creation of an autoethnographic approach explicitly linked to positive psychology has been proposed.

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Section: Next Stepsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“You can end up in a happy place” (Voyce): a role for positive autoethnography

Gonot-Schoupinsky

Weeks

Carson

2023

MHSI

Self Cite

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“…I stayed in touch with Jerome after these formative experiences, which had empowered me and given me a further sense of self. In his more recent role as Professor of Psychology at the University of Bolton he has expanded my horizons by inviting me to be a co-author of several academic articles, on subjects dear to my heart (Hopkinson et al , 2021; Voyce and Carson, 2020), and two book chapters (Cordle et al , 2011; Davies et al , 2011). Jerome has also invited me, three times (2021–2023), to deliver lectures, on the topic “My lived experience”, for undergraduate and postgraduate students at Bolton University.…”

Section: In Search Of Perma-related Traits Of Importance For Remissio...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“Not so good vibrations”: five collaborative autoethnographic accounts of Brian Wilson, his life, music, rock “n” recovery’

Hopkinson,

Niklasson,

Bryngelsson

et al. 2023

MHSI

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of the life of the musician Brian Wilson from five different perspectives. Design/methodology/approach The authors used a mixed method of collaborative autoethnography, psychobiography and digital team ethnography to try and better understand the life and contributions of Brian Wilson. Findings Each of the five contributors provides different insights into the life and music of Brian Wilson. Research limitations/implications While the focus of this paper is on a single individual, a case study, the long and distinguished life of Brian Wilson provides much material for discussion and theorising. Practical implications Each individual presenting to mental health services has a complex biography. The five different contributions articulated in this paper could perhaps be taken as similar to the range of professional opinions seen in mental health teams, with each focusing on unique but overlapping aspects of the person’s story. Social implications This account shows the importance of taking a biological-psychological-social-spiritual and cultural perspective on mental illness. Originality/value This multi-layered analysis brings a range of perspectives to bear on the life and achievements of Brian Wilson, from developmental, musical, psychological and lived experience standpoints.

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“…I was struck by the fact that we had both attended the University of Reading in the 1970s and that we had both ended up in the field of psychiatry, Andrew as a mental patient and me as a mental health professional. We wrote an autoethnographic account of our parallel lives (Voyce and Carson, 2020). We are continuing to work on other collaborations.…”

Section: Jerome Carsonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Syd Barrett took a left turn and never came back, Andrew Voyce did. Why?

Hopkinson¹,

Voyce²,

Carson³

2021

MHSI

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to compare the stories of Syd Barrett musician, with Andrew Voyce, and their respective recovery journeys. Design/methodology/approach The authors use collaborative autoethnography to share their own perspectives on Syd Barrett and to contrast his story with that of Andrew, a co-author. Findings Both Syd and Andrew experienced serious mental distress. While Syd had only limited contact with mental health services, Andrew’s contact was extensive, with a 20-year history of admissions and discharges. In the end, when the psychiatric services listened to Andrew’s concerns and acted on them, he was able to enter into the journey of recovery. Research limitations/implications The authors are restricted in the amount of available information on Syd Barrett, especially that related to mental health problems. The story of Andrew shows how recovery is possible even after years of serious mental illness. Practical implications Andrew’s story shows why professionals should never give up on people, with even the most seemingly severe and intractable problems. Could services have done more for Syd? Social implications Mental illness still attracts huge stigma. Today there is a much more open culture. Would Syd have come out about his own struggles with mental health had society been more open? Originality/value Bringing together two stories of mental distress enables the authors to explore the concept of recovery.

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Our lives in three parts: an autoethnographic account of two undergraduates and their respective psychiatric careers

Cited by 12 publications

References 13 publications

“You can end up in a happy place” (Voyce): a role for positive autoethnography

“You can end up in a happy place” (Voyce): a role for positive autoethnography

“Not so good vibrations”: five collaborative autoethnographic accounts of Brian Wilson, his life, music, rock “n” recovery’

Syd Barrett took a left turn and never came back, Andrew Voyce did. Why?

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