Mission
EXPERIENCE – Journal of Qualitative Research in Mental Health is launched in the belief that the study of personal lived experience is a crucial gateway to the development of human mental health. Therefore, this journal is dedicated to advancing qualitative research methodologies in the study of mental health and providing a platform for diverse voices and experiences within the mental health community.
Background history of the journal – QRMH conferences
The idea of the journal is closely connected to the series of Qualitative Research in Mental Health (QRMH) conferences to which the editors have a close relation. The Qualitative Research on Mental Health conference has been established as an international transdisciplinary forum for dedicated qualitative research on a wide range of mental health topics, using a variety of methodologies and approaches.
Previous QRMH conferences attracted solid international interest from a diversity of backgrounds, including psychologists, psychotherapists, service users, health and social care professionals, social scientists and health policymakers, and created a space for lively and enriching discussions. These conferences over the past decade have showcased the diversity and innovation within the field of qualitative research methodologies. The presentations have offered unique insights and tools, contributing significantly to the ongoing development of qualitative research in psychotherapy and mental health. These methods and insights represented a significant advancement in understanding and improving practices within these critical fields and demonstrated the need for a common written forum dedicated to continued innovation and ethical considerations in qualitative mental health research.
The forum for Qualitative Research in Mental Health
Qualitative research methodologies can offer profound insights into complex human experiences and interactions in the future. Over the past decades, qualitative studies have highlighted that mental health's social and cultural contexts are unique and the study of personal lived experience is indispensable for understanding human mental health. Consequently, the journal ‘Experience’ wants to represent such complexity by fostering a holistic understanding of mental health issues and inviting studies from diverse qualitative research traditions.
Ethnographic methods remain essential for capturing lived experiences in health research. Through participant observation, in-depth interviews, and fieldwork, researchers gain a nuanced understanding of health-related phenomena. By emphasizing reflexivity, ethical considerations, and cultural competence, these methods ensure that research is both rigorous and respectful of the communities involved.
Narrative inquiry is a powerful method for exploring personal stories in mental health research. By focusing on collecting and analyzing narratives, researchers can comprehend individual experiences and the broader social and cultural contexts that shape them. This approach provides deep insights into individuals' lived experiences, informing more empathetic and effective mental health practices.
Phenomenology aims to understand lived experiences from the perspective of those who experience them. Case studies offer in-depth insights into complex phenomena, providing detailed contextual understanding. Mixed methods research combines qualitative and quantitative approaches to offer comprehensive insights into research questions. Researchers have learned to design and implement mixed methods studies, addressing complex research questions holistically.
Grounded theory methodology's theoretical, epistemological, and technical foundations make it suitable for exploring mental-health-related processes, patterns, and contextual meaning. It prompts researchers to start their inquiry from the perspectives and the subjective experiences of their participants. Grounded theory's emphasis on social processes facilitates the exploration of how social structures and relationships shape mental health through human behavior, interactions, and meaning-making (Tweed & Charmaz, 2011).
Qualitative research is especially valuable for comprehending the complex phenomena of psychotherapeutic processes involving subjective experiences and varying perspectives (Levitt, 2015). Qualitative researchers employ a diversity of epistemological approaches and analytic methods (e.g., grounded theory, phenomenology, conversation analysis, discourse analysis, and case studies) to study the internal and relational experiences of therapists and their clients, as well as critical incidents in psychotherapy and their link to behavioral change. Qualitative meta-analysis is an appropriate method to provide a comprehensive and conclusive overview of qualitatively explored phenomena, such as clients' views on the impacts of helpful and hindering incidents in psychotherapy (Ladmanová, Řiháček, & Timulak, 2022).
The qualitative approach is also essential in understanding the mental health processes of professional helpers. Ting, Sanders, Jacobson, and Power (2006) understood that social workers who often serve clients with mental health issues, including suicidal ideations, are at risk of experiencing a client suicide during their career. Their qualitative study explored the reactions of 25 mental health social workers to client suicides, identifying themes such as denial, anger, grief, acceptance, avoidance, intrusion, professional incompetence, responsibility, isolation, and justification within the framework of grief and secondary traumatic stress, and discusses implications for practitioners, administrators, and educators.
Qualitative social work and social justice are critical components within this research paradigm. By applying qualitative methodologies, social workers can deeply explore the lived experiences of marginalized and underserved populations. This approach not only uncovers the nuanced realities of these groups but also informs practices and policies aimed at social justice. Qualitative social work research advocates for systemic changes and equity and fosters an inclusive and fair society by capturing often overheard voices. This intersection of qualitative research and social justice underscores the transformative potential of social work to address and mitigate social inequalities, ultimately contributing to the betterment of individuals and communities.
Critical qualitative research (Levitt, Morrill, Collins, & Rizo, 2021) involves participatory procedures that shed light on the contextual influences of social power and oppression. Researchers may invite participants to take an active part in designing and developing the research question and the research project. When addressing participants with vulnerable mental health, like refugees with trauma experiences, qualitative researchers may support the participants' needs by reflecting and acknowledging the power differences, expressing shared values and sensitively phrasing the interview questions (Levitt et al., 2021).
Personal lived experience in positive mental health
Leamy, Bird, Boutillier, Williams, and Slade (2011) introduced a conceptual framework for personal recovery in mental health by systematic review and narrative synthesis. Personal recovery in mental health has been defined as a deeply personal and unique process that involves changing one's attitudes, values, feelings, goals, skills, and roles. This process enables individuals to live a satisfying, hopeful, and contributing life despite the limitations caused by illness. Therefore, one specific aim of the ‘Experience’ journal is to provide an outlet for studies exploring the human potential for recovery and growth.
Beyond the experiences of vulnerability in mental health, qualitative methodologies offer effective methods for grasping the complexities of optimal human functioning. In 2017, Hefferon and colleagues launched a call for qualitative research to explore human flourishing and well-being. Researchers gain valuable insights into mental health by exploring inductive notions and personal experiences of well-being, hope, purpose, and love (Hefferon, Ashfield, Waters, & Synard, 2017). Positive psychologists applied a phenomenological approach to study the process of post-traumatic growth and the role of the body in this process. Narrative accounts of positive life experiences – such as happiness and maturity – helped researchers understand how positive mental health is constructed even under challenging circumstances (Rich, 2017).
The need for innovation in qualitative research
The QRMH conferences have always been open to new and innovative qualitative research methods. In the same vein, we invite innovative methodological frameworks adapting the socioecological approach and the relevant relational and embodied experiences in post-modern societies to mental health. Photovoice, cooperative visual methods, art and drawing techniques, and experience mapping are procedures that focus on social and cultural determinants of mental health and health equity in smaller or larger communities.
By providing a platform for the above approaches and stakeholders, the journal ensures that research findings are not only academically rigorous but also practically relevant. Service users can share their lived experiences, enriching the research with unique perspectives. Health and social care professionals can gain insights into best practices and innovative approaches to care. Social scientists can explore the complex social dynamics affecting mental health, while health-policy-makers can use the evidence generated to inform policies that promote better mental health outcomes. This collaborative and interdisciplinary approach enhances the impact and applicability of qualitative research in real-world settings.
In this spirit, the Editors commend EXPERIENCE to the attention of professionals interested in mental health.
References
Hefferon, K., Ashfield, A., Waters, L., & Synard, J. (2017). Understanding optimal human functioning–The ‘call for qual’in exploring human flourishing and well-being. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 12(3), 211–219.
Ladmanová, M., Řiháček, T., & Timulak, L. (2022). Client-identified impacts of helpful and hindering events in psychotherapy: A qualitative meta-analysis. Psychotherapy Research, 32(6), 723–735.
Leamy, M., Bird, V., Boutillier, C. L., Williams, J., & Slade, M. (2011). Conceptual framework for personal recovery in mental health: Systematic review and narrative synthesis. British Journal of Psychiatry, 199(6), 445–452. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.110.083733.
Levitt, H. M. (2015). Qualitative psychotherapy research: The journey so far and future directions. Psychotherapy, 52(1), 31.
Levitt, H. M., Morrill, Z., Collins, K. M., & Rizo, J. L. (2021). The methodological integrity of critical qualitative research: Principles to support design and research review. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 68(3), 357.
Rich, G. J. (2017). The promise of qualitative inquiry for positive psychology: Diversifying methods. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 12(3), 220–231.
Ting, L., Sanders, S., Jacobson, J. M., & Power, J. R. (October 2006). Dealing with the aftermath: A qualitative analysis of mental health social workers' reactions after a client suicide, Social Work, 51(4), 329–341. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/51.4.329.
Tweed, A., & Charmaz, K. (2011). Grounded theory methods for mental health practitioners. In A. R. Harper, & D. Thompson (Eds.), Qualitative research methods in mental health and psychotherapy: A guide for students and practitioners (pp. 131–146). West Sussex: John Wiley and Sons.