Lived Experiences of Mental Health Recovery in Persons of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Backgrounds within the Australian Context

Abstract

Lived experience research related to mental health recovery is advancing, but there remains a lack of narrative material from the perspectives of people from under-represented, non-dominant cultural backgrounds in this domain. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of mental health recovery in people of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds in the Australian context. The current study involved a secondary analysis of audio and visual data collected during the digital storytelling project Finding our way in Melbourne, Australia. Thematic analysis was used to understand the lived experience narratives of nine participants in relation to mental health recovery. Five themes were identified through an iterative process of analysis, including Newfound opportunities and care, Family as key motivators and facilitators, Coping and generativity, Cultivating self-understanding and resilience, and Empowerment through social engagement. First person lived experience narratives offer deep insight into understanding the ways in which individuals of marginalised communities conceptualise and embody recovery. These findings further the literature and understanding on how to better serve the needs of people with mental health challenges from CALD communities through informed knowledge of what may be helpful to, and meaningful in, individuals’ recoveries.

Qualitative Systematic Literature Review: Participatory Visual Methods in Community Health Interventions With Migrants

“…A common deficiency was limited reflections about ethical challenges and considerations. In three articles, it was not described that consent to participate was given (Haque & Eng, 2011; Jih et al, 2018; Murray et al, 2015), and in six articles, the effects of the study on the participants were not considered (Haque & Eng, 2011; Jih et al, 2018; Levy-Fenner et al, 2022; Njeru et al, 2015; Postma et al, 2015; Schwartz et al, 2007). Further, three articles did not provide any or insufficient details about ethical approval (Busza & Schunter, 2001; Haque & Eng, 2011; Jih et al, 2018; Schwartz et al, 2007).…”

“…The 18 included articles were published from 2001 to 2022 (Table 3). Twelve of the studies took place in the United States (Chavez-Baray et al, 2022; D’Alonzo & Sharma, 2010; Evans-Agnew et al, 2018; Gómez & Castañeda, 2019; Jih et al, 2018; McMorrow & Saksena, 2017; Murray et al, 2015; Njeru et al, 2015; Postma et al, 2015; Rhodes et al, 2015; Schwartz et al, 2007; Vaughn et al, 2016), while three took place in Canada (Ahmad et al, 2022; Gailits et al, 2022; Haque & Eng, 2011), two in Australia (Bartlett et al, 2022; Levy-Fenner et al, 2022), and one in Cambodia (Busza & Schunter, 2001). The number of participants varied from under 10 in most studies using photovoice (Bartlett et al, 2022; D’Alonzo & Sharma, 2010; Evans-Agnew et al, 2018; Gómez & Castañeda, 2019; Murray et al, 2015; Postma et al, 2015; Rhodes et al, 2015; Schwartz et al, 2007) to 240 participants in one of the studies using concept mapping (Vaughn et al, 2016).…”

“…Degrees of Tokenism. We placed nine of the articles in the category 'degrees of tokenism' (Chavez- Baray et al, 2022;D'Alonzo & Sharma, 2010;Gailits et al, 2022;Jih et al, 2018;Levy-Fenner et al, 2022;McMorrow & Saksena, 2017;Njeru et al, 2015;Postma et al, 2015;Schwartz et al, 2007). Common for these articles were that the participants had some co-determination, though limited by concrete research-driven requirements for, for example, themes in the visual materials or group discussions.…”

Awakening on antipsychotic medication: A call to action.

“…In turn, these self-care skills can be used during efforts to deprescribe, taper, or lower dosages of medication. Additionally, cultural and family support of chosen self-care practices have been emphasized in discussions of relational recovery (Levy-Fenner et al, 2022; O’Hagan et al, 2012).…”

A qualitative evaluation of the questionnaire about the process of recovery (QPR) in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations

“…An under-researched and poorly understood aspect of mental health is the way mental health recovery is conceptualised and measured across cultures (Lapsley et al , 2002; Slade et al , 2014; Tesfaye et al , 2010; Kirmayer, 2012; Nagel et al , 2012). Increases in migration (in Australia and globally) contribute to greater heterogeneity of cultural identities, adding to the challenge of understanding mental health recovery in culturally diverse groups (Levy-Fenner et al , 2022). More specifically, they limit the extent to which researchers can draw upon cultural models such as the individualism–collectivism paradigm to theorise how certain groups might conceptualise recovery (Hermans and Kempen, 1998).…”