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KMID : 1151020230510030214
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Mental Health & Social Work
2023 Volume.51 No. 3 p.214 ~ p.245
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The Coming Out Experience of People with Mental Illnesses
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Kim Mi-Kyoung
Seo Mi-Kyung
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Abstract
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It is critical to disclose the identity of the people with mental illness in order to reduce stigma and promote recovery among those suffering from mental illnesses. This study is to understand their coming out experience in depth among people with mental illness. For the study, in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 people with mental illnesses who were receiving community mental health service. As a result of the research, the 4 themes cluster and 15 themes were found. First, people with mental illnesses have been disclosed under the categories of ‘secrecy’, ‘selectively disclosure’, and ‘public disclosure’. And it was using the gradual disclosure. Second, the reasons for disclosure in the private sector were social support, consideration, and honest interaction. In the public sector, reasons for disclosure were welfare benefits and convenience providing. Third, after disclosure, the positive reactions of confidant were acceptance, understanding, and consideration, despite the negative ones were discrimination, indifference, and drawing lines. Fourth, positive changes of discloser after coming out were comfort, confidence, and symptom relief, while negative changes were social withdrawal, despair, and anxiety. Based on these results, we have proposed the programs and practical strategies to help those with mental illnesses coming out.
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KEYWORD
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Stigmatized Identity, Coming out, Secrecy, Disclosure, Public disclosure, Coming out Program
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FullTexts / Linksout information
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Listed journal information
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