A Narrative Exploration of Sense of Belonging of Persons Living with Schizophrenia in the Community

Abstract

This narrative inquiry consisting of an interview and a series of walkabouts with three persons living with schizophrenia identified five experiences: (1) feeling something was wrong, (2) being diagnosed, (3) a turning point, (4) their life starting over, and (5) achieving a feeling of peace or acceptance. All three narratives identified sense of belonging as the key to understanding movement through these stages. The implications for mental health practitioners are the need for patient access to peer social interactions during the early stages of diagnosis, opportunities for self-determination in care practices, and a greater focus on belonging within hospital settings.