Too close to home? : the lived experience of mental health professionals with familial mental health issues

Abstract

This study explored the lived experience of mental health professionals (MHPs) with familial mental health issues (MHIs), using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Four participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. Data was collected through audio-recorded, semi-structured interviews, and analysed according to IPA guidelines. Findings showed that participants experienced familial repercussions such as parentification, role conflict and a competition of needs. These experiences increased emotional distress, and feelings of grief, apprehension, guilt and anger were reported. Participants’ ongoing process of trying to understand, and make sense of, their family members’ MHIs was apparent. Participants who were not MHPs at the time of their family members’ MHI onset were inspired by their experience to pursue a profession in mental health. Participants used their experiences to further enhance their work with clients. Participants showed that journalling, supervision, therapy, boundary-maintenance and support networks increased resilience. Participants shared that distress could have been decreased had their experience with their family member’s MHPs been better. They noted that change was needed regarding training and awareness opportunities for those not in the profession. Although participants acknowledged the presence of stigma, they reported not being significantly impacted by it. Implications for counselling include counsellors recognising and helping MHPs work through the impact associated with having family members with MHIs, and how these can affect their personal and professional identities. Counsellors need to advocate for increased resources and support, reduction of stigma, and systemic change to advance the support for those dealing with MHIs. Recommendations include further research to address this issue and meet the needs of this cohort, policy advancement to increase accessible support to families, training for the public and professionals, and MHPs practising awareness and maintaining wellbeing when experiencing personal adversities.