Abstract
An enduring and seemingly intractable source of disability amongst those identified as ‘mentally ill’ is the effects of stigmatisation and spoiled identity. Classic studies such as those by Goffman and Rosenhan point to ways in which this is a consequence of socially constructed identities developed within an institutionalised setting. A full understanding of the detrimental effects stigmatisation and other adverse consequences of just being someone with a mental health difficulty have upon an individual requires consideration of interactions between mental health service users and professionals.
This chapter provides illustrations from a study of clients and practitioners making up an assertive outreach Assertive Outreach (AO) team that considered these interactions within a symbolic interactionist (SI) framework. Practitioners’ institutional setting was found to be a powerful influence on their constructions of clients’ identities, even in this community setting. SI proved a valuable approach to investigating these effects, and the setting a valuable opportunity for exploring its theoretical strengths and weaknesses.
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Notes
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The idea that during social interactions, individuals define situations through particular frames in which their experiences are organised (Goffman 1974).
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Roe, J. (2017). A Symbolic Interactionist Approach to Mental Health Assertive Outreach. In: Middleton, H., Jordan, M. (eds) Mental Health Uncertainty and Inevitability. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43970-9_2
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