Ebeveyni Kronik Ruhsal Hastalık Tanısı Alan Bireylerin Çocukluk Çağı Deneyimlerinin Sosyal Hizmet Perspektifinden Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Studies on children whose parents have been diagnosed with chronic mental illness have mostly been conducted from the perspective of mental health, psychology or medical disciplines. It is observed that the unique and holistic approach offered by the social work discipline is not sufficiently included in this field. In particular, there is a lack of a perspective that focuses on child well-being, social justice and quality of life, and considers the interaction between the individual and the environment. This deficiency highlights the need for qualitative research that addresses the experiences of these children from a social work perspective and examines in depth how they cope with the risk and protective factors they face. This study aims to discover the childhood experiences of individuals whose parents have been diagnosed with chronic mental illness and to evaluate these experiences from the unique perspective of social work. The study was conducted using qualitative methodology and in-depth interviews were used in the data collection process. The subjects consisted of 22 adults with different socio-demographic characteristics, whose parents were diagnosed with mental illness during childhood. The data were analyzed through thematic analysis using MAXQDA software. The findings revealed that the subjects assumed intense responsibility in family relationships and faced experiences such as lack of information, stigmatization and neglect. However, it was observed that some children developed empathy, self-advocacy, psychological resilience and used some coping strategies during this process. Extended family structures, teachers and institutional systems were identified as both risk and protective factors. Especially at the structural level, it was found that children often remain invisible and there are structural barriers in accessing support. As a result of the research, it was suggested that children should have early access to psychosocial support mechanisms, mental health literacy should be increased and a child centered holistic approach should be developed in the social service system. As a qualitative study aiming to explore children's own experiences, this study makes an important contribution to social work literature and practices..