Exploring the Perception of Personal Loss Resulting from Mental Illness

Abstract

This paper looks at the experience and meaning given to loss as a direct result of living with a severe and persistent mentally illness. This is addressed through an examination of the research literature along with a quantitative survey and a qualitative interview involving individuals who carry this mental health label with an adult onset of their mental illness who were a part of an urban continuing day treatment program. Recommendations are given as to possible interventions that could be made in the form of group or individual therapy in the continuing day treatment program which might directly address some of these issues.