Metaphorical Analysis of Community Mental Health Center Services from the Perspective of Service Users

Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) are designed to promote rehabilitation, social integration, and functionality for individuals living with chronic mental disorders. Understanding how service users perceive these services is crucial for improving psychiatric care that is both sustainable and centered on human experience. This qualitative study aimed to explore the perceptions of CMHC service users through their metaphorical expressions. Data were collected from 104 participants, with 80 valid metaphors analyzed. Using metaphor analysis, the expressions were thematically categorized through independent and collaborative coding processes. The analysis revealed six main metaphor categories, including emotional supportive entity, providing closeness and interest in relationships, healing and supportive services, building bridges to life, learning and development, and maintaining balance. The majority of the metaphors conveyed positive experiences, emphasizing emotional support, personal growth, social connectedness, and recovery. These findings suggest that CMHCs are experienced by users as therapeutic, empowering, and meaningful in their everyday lives. The metaphorical insights highlight the importance of integrating user experiences into service design and emphasize the key role of psychiatric nurses in delivering effective community-based mental health care.