Bianca Brijnath1. 1. Department of General Practice, School of Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Notting Hill, VIC, Australia bianca.brijnath@monash.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: CHIME (connectedness, hope and optimism about the future, identity, meaning in life and empowerment) is a framework for conceptualising personal recovery from mental illness. To date, there has been limited research on its cross-cultural applicability. AIMS: To apply CHIME to two culturally diverse groups' conceptualisation of recovery from depression. METHOD: Qualitative interviews with 30 Anglo-Australians and 28 Indian-Australians living with depression in Melbourne, Australia. Data were thematically analysed. RESULTS: Both groups valued connectedness but experienced stigma and struggled to broker family support. Identity, hope and optimism for the future were associated with positive thinking, being 'cured' and discontinuing treatment. Spirituality gave Indian participants meaning in life; Anglos derived meaning from the illness experience itself. Feeling empowered, for both groups, was related to improved socio-economic status and being 'settled' (e.g. having gainful employment, a home and family). CONCLUSIONS: CHIME was applicable in both groups, but culture mediated how cross-cutting issues (e.g. stigma) and sub-components of CHIME were operationalised. Recovery was also influenced by participant's socio-economic context. Research, policy and practice implications are discussed.
BACKGROUND:CHIME (connectedness, hope and optimism about the future, identity, meaning in life and empowerment) is a framework for conceptualising personal recovery from mental illness. To date, there has been limited research on its cross-cultural applicability. AIMS: To apply CHIME to two culturally diverse groups' conceptualisation of recovery from depression. METHOD: Qualitative interviews with 30 Anglo-Australians and 28 Indian-Australians living with depression in Melbourne, Australia. Data were thematically analysed. RESULTS: Both groups valued connectedness but experienced stigma and struggled to broker family support. Identity, hope and optimism for the future were associated with positive thinking, being 'cured' and discontinuing treatment. Spirituality gave Indian participants meaning in life; Anglos derived meaning from the illness experience itself. Feeling empowered, for both groups, was related to improved socio-economic status and being 'settled' (e.g. having gainful employment, a home and family). CONCLUSIONS:CHIME was applicable in both groups, but culture mediated how cross-cutting issues (e.g. stigma) and sub-components of CHIME were operationalised. Recovery was also influenced by participant's socio-economic context. Research, policy and practice implications are discussed.
Authors: Eunice C Wong; Rebecca L Collins; Joshua Breslau; M Audrey Burnam; Matthew S Cefalu; Elizabeth Roth Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2019-03-29 Impact factor: 3.630
Authors: Jelle Sjoerd Vogel; Jojanneke Bruins; Levi Halbersma; Rianne Janine Lieben; Steven de Jong; Mark van der Gaag; Stynke Castelein Journal: Int J Ment Health Nurs Date: 2020-03-09 Impact factor: 3.503