Exploring parents' understanding of their children’s mental health and wellbeing. From experience to discourse.

Abstract

This thesis explores parents’ views, experiences, and constructions of children’s mental health and wellbeing. Chapter 1: A meta-ethnographic, systematic literature review was conducted to synthesise findings of six studies which had explored the experiences of parents whose children had accessed mental health services. Findings demonstrated support for common understandings in help-seeking and access literature in mental health. The synthesis highlighted the expectations, assumptions, and anticipated consequences of constructing problems as mental health difficulties. Connections were drawn with the possibilities made available in community-based and partnership working in universal services. Chapter 2: Provides an ethical and methodological consideration of the empirical project presented in Chapter Three. The relationship between findings from the literature review and the empirical project is discussed and the methodological process is considered in depth. This includes consideration of the philosophical assumptions related to a discourse analysis methodology and consideration of ethically important moments which arose in carrying out the research. Chapter 3: An empirical study focused on understanding parents’ construction of wellbeing as a concept. A discourse analysis methodology was used to explore how wellbeing is constructed in conversations amongst parents. Participants were interviewed virtually in pre-existing pairs and the discussions then analysed. The discursive constructions and wider discourses considered in this analysis were explored from the perspective of power, positioning, and possibilities for action in universal services when developing approaches to practice. Particular consideration was given to the possible contribution of educational psychology. Chapter 4: Provides a reflective and reflexive account of the research process and outcomes and what this means for me as a trainee practitioner and researcher. The implications for my own professional practice as a future EP are considered and possible next steps in EP research and practice more generally are explored. Cross referencing is used throughout the thesis. These links are indicated by text in bold italics.