What Are the Experiences of People with Neurodevelopmental Disorders Receiving Outpatient Mental Health Services in Singapore?

Abstract

Background: There is a lack of studies that explore the views and experiences of people with neurodevelopmental disorders of their mental health. This study explored the experiences of five adults with neurodevelopmental disorders who receive outpatient mental health services in Singapore.Method: Two participants attended one-to-one semi-structured interviews and three participants attended a focus group. The data were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.Results: Four master themes emerged: (1) Sense of self, (2) people who matter to me, (3) having choice and autonomy, and (4) hopes and dreams. Three subthemes were further identified in the second master theme. Conclusion:The themes identified the negative impact of mental illness on self-esteem and their experiences of receiving specialist mental health service in Singapore. Participants also specified desirable traits of professional staff and expressed a wish to have greater participation in the community through employment. Implications of the findings are discussed in the context of improving services for this population and addressing their psychosocial needs during the treatment process.