The lived experience of adolescent users of mental health services in Vienna, Austria: A qualitative study of personal recovery

Abstract

Problem In Austria, one in four adolescents suffers from a mental health problem, yet there is a lack of adequate care structures. Therefore, the personal recovery of these adolescents is of particular interest. The aim of the study was to explore, from a Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (CAPMHN) perspective, how adolescent users of mental health services in Vienna, Austria experienced personal recovery after a stay in hospital, and to discover what had influenced the personal recovery of adolescent users of mental health services in Vienna. Methods Ten episodic interviews with adolescents were conducted. Nine of them were analyzed following the content analysis of Mayring (2015). Findings The findings of the survey indicate that the personal recovery of the participants was influenced by personal and external factors. Personal factors were the subjective experience of illness and recovery, optimism, resources, and ambivalence. External factors were family, peers, and treatment. The findings suggest that personal recovery of adolescents with a mental health problem is affected by youth‐specific aspects. Conclusions CAPMHNs can support the personal recovery of adolescent users of mental health services, so providing recovery‐oriented care, adequate care structures, and specific nursing skills is crucial.

‘Don’t abandon me’: Young people’s experiences of child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient care supporting recovery described in blogs

“…2020; Rayner et al . 2018; Schneidtinger & Haslinger‐Baumann 2019). However, there is little research that focuses on the recovery experiences of young people (Rayner et al .…”

“…Also, parents are believed to have a substantial impact on young people’s recovery (Naughton et al . 2020; Schneidtinger & Haslinger‐Baumann 2019). Young people’s recovery should involve both the young person and their parents, rather than focusing on independent functioning, and should be more about young people re‐engaging in day‐to‐day activities than rebuilding their lives (Naughton et al .…”

“…Schneidtinger & Haslinger‐Baumann (2019) reported findings from nine interviews with young people experiencing personal recovery who described ambivalent feelings towards inpatient care. Ward structure and rules could either be perceived as a relief or as constraining; similarly, peers could be seen as an important source for community and support or as having a bad influence (Schneidtinger & Haslinger‐Baumann 2019). The constant presence and availability of staff provided a sense of security, but witnessing psychiatric emergencies involving peers was extremely stressful.…”

“…Young people's mental-health recovery The concepts of personal recovery and recovery-oriented care are generating a growing amount of interest in the context of young people's mental health (Ballesteros-Urpi et al 2019;John et al 2015;Kaplan & Racussen 2013;Kelly & Coughlan 2019;Law et al 2020;Naughton et al 2020;Rayner et al 2018;Schneidtinger & Haslinger-Baumann 2019). However, there is little research that focuses on the recovery experiences of young people (Rayner et al 2018).…”

“…It has been suggested that young people's recovery differs from adult recovery in some aspects and that conceptualizations of young people's recovery need to acknowledge that young people are in a period of development (Kelly & Coughlan 2019;Law et al 2020;Naughton et al 2020;Rayner et al 2018). Also, parents are believed to have a substantial impact on young people's recovery (Naughton et al 2020;Schneidtinger & Haslinger-Baumann 2019). Young people's recovery should involve both the young person and their parents, rather than focusing on independent functioning, and should be more about young people re-engaging in day-to-day activities than rebuilding their lives (Naughton et al 2020).…”