The lived experience of professionals who work with mentally ill individuals

Abstract

Working in mental health care is often portrayed as a stressful experience with a high burnout rate in the literature, however past studies have mostly focused on specific aspects of the experience. The purpose of this study is to explore the lived experience of professionals who work with mentally ill individuals. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with five professionals who work in different areas of mental health; a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a social worker, an occupational therapist and a nurse. Analysis of the data was carried out using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The findings highlight a sense of being therapeutic to the patient and the sense of satisfaction that ensues, but also the challenging aspect of the experience and the persistent existence of stigma against mental illness in today's society. Furthermore, the professionals' perspectives point to a need for more extensive practical training during years of study and greater awareness on mental health.