Citation

Stanton J, Skipworth J. Crim. Behav. Ment. Health 2006; 15(3): 154-163.

Affiliation

Child and Family Unit, Starship Children's Health, Auckland, New Zealand.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/cbm.3

PMID

16575793

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To review perceptions of barriers to receiving effective mental health care described by patients who had committed intra-familial homicide in the context of untreated severe mental illness. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews addressed issues such as support, help-seeking, experience of illness, and what participants felt might have helped prevent the death(s). Transcripts were analysed for themes related to barriers to help-seeking. RESULTS: Themes identified included: hiding or minimizing difficulties, lack of knowledge or understanding of mental illness, loss of control in the context of illness, seduction by the illness, reality-distorting effects of the illness, distortion of interpersonal relationships, diminished ability to trust and difficulty acknowledging need for medication. CONCLUSIONS: Barriers to care exist at individual, interpersonal and wider societal levels and need to be addressed at all of them.

Language: en