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ORAL SESSION_1: Mental Health Issues of Couples and Families
Time:
Wednesday, 21/May/2025:
4:00pm - 5:30pm
Session Chair: Faith Martin, University of Bath
Location:ROOM 203
(45' Discussion will follow)
Presentations
4:00pm - 4:15pm
Breaking the silence: Navigating perinatal mental health challenges and social support in Tyrol, Austria
Laura Hölzle
Medical University Innsbruck/Leopold Franzens University, Austria
Perinatal mental illness (PMI) is a major health concern during pregnancy and the first year postpartum. It affects many parents during what is often perceived as a joyous time. While social support and peer exchange can be invaluable during this significant transition, stigma - particularly in the Austrian region of Tyrol - often hinders open discussions about perinatal mental health (PMH) challenges. This talk presents findings from a qualitative study exploring how mothers experience and navigate PMH challenges within their social networks. It is part of a broader research project aiming to improve support for new parents. The project was inspired by a mother’s journey of struggling to find adequate formal support, leading her to establish a local self-help group. Based on 13 semi-structured interviews analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, we report two overarching themes: (1) when expected joy meets unexpected struggles and (2) social and peer support: valued yet complex. Our findings highlight the emotional rollercoaster of mothers with PMH challenges and the critical role of lived experience in shaping meaningful support. These insights call for community-driven peer initiatives and more open discussions to reduce stigma and better meet the needs of new parents.
4:15pm - 4:30pm
Journey: the metaphoric perception of couples relationships when one of them copes with mental issues
Tamila Kemelman Polyakov1, Iris Lavi2, Ruth Berkowitz3, Eli Buchbinder4
1University of Haifa, Israel; 2University of BATH, UK; 3University of Haifa, Israel; 4University of Haifa, Israel
The interaction between mental health and relationships remains understudied, particularly regarding how couples navigate their relationship when one partner faces mental health challenges. This research examines how couples, where one partner has a mental disorder, perceive their relationship through metaphoric language.
This qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with 12 couples (24 participants) living together in relationships. The sample included 8 women and 4 men with mental illness, and their partners (8 men, 4 women), aged 24-68, with relationship duration ranging from 5 to 37 years.
Analysis revealed that couples view their relationship as a shared journey, reflecting their partnership in facing illness together and experiencing mutual growth through challenges. The journey metaphor emerged as a representation of their shared experiences, encompassing love, acceptance, empathy, and mutual commitment. This metaphor enables couples to reframe mental crisis situations as opportunities for personal and couple growth, strengthening their belief in their ability to cope and grow stronger together.
The findings contribute to understanding how couples create meaning in the face of distress, suggesting that the journey metaphor could serve as a valuable therapeutic tool in mental health contexts. This perspective offers new insights for clinical interventions and relationship support in mental health settings.
4:30pm - 4:45pm
Parenting children with neurodevelopmental disorders in Malaysia: a qualitative exploration of parental wellbeing
Faith Martin1, Trixie Tangit2, Habibie Ibrahim2, Nicholas Pang2
1University of Bath, United Kingdom; 2Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia
Parenting a child with a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) in Malaysia is shaped by systemic, social, and cultural barriers. This qualitative study explores the lived experiences of 16 parents in Malaysian Borneo and Perak, focusing on their wellbeing, access to support, and cultural influences.
Thematic analysis identified six interconnected challenges: 1) Inaccessible support services—long waiting times, financial strain, and geographic barriers force parents to seek informal alternatives; 2) Communication difficulties—non-verbal challenges lead to frustration, misinterpretation, and social withdrawal; 3) Pervasive daily impact—caregiving responsibilities disrupt relationships, routines, and self-care; 4) Emotional and psychological toll—stress, stigma, and internalized blame worsen parental wellbeing; 5) Parental identity and advocacy—parents navigate isolation but develop resilience through peer networks and advocacy roles; and 6) Cultural constructions of disability—collectivist values both support and stigmatize, shaping caregiving experiences.
Findings challenge assumptions that community structures always provide support, highlighting the need for peer-support integration, rural outreach, and stigma reduction. Considering Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory, the interaction between different systems is clear, with a need for multi-level interventions, not least to address distress placed in the parents that is related to lack of support and social stigma.
