Keeping close: mothering with serious mental illness

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Sociology
• Women's Health

Background:

• Mothering is often pathologized for women with serious mental illness (SMI).
• Limited understanding exists regarding the lived experiences of mothers with SMI.
• Healthcare professionals increasingly acknowledge the desire to mother in women with SMI.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the perspectives of mothers with SMI on their mothering experiences.
• To understand how these mothers managed their circumstances while living with mental illness.

Main Methods:

• Grounded theory approach (Glaser).
• Purposive and theoretical sampling.
• Interviews with 20 mothers undergoing mental health treatment.

Main Results:

• The core category 'Keeping close' highlights mothers' efforts to maintain relationships with children.
• Mothers employed strategies like masking and censoring to conceal illness and protect their roles.
• Concealment created contradictions, leading mothers to seek treatment for authentic connection.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare providers need to consider the social and cultural context of mothering for women with SMI.
• Sensitivity to these contexts can foster healthier nurturing possibilities.
• Supporting authentic mothering requires understanding the challenges faced by mothers with SMI.