Roles of Families in the Forensic Mental Health System in Ontario,Canada: An Interpretive Phenomenology

Abstract

The study aims to explore the roles held by family members in the forensic mental health system, focusing on how these roles are embodied, performed and adhered to, as well as understanding the intersecting and sometimes conflicting nature of these roles. Employing a qualitative methodology, specifically interpretive phenomenology, and drawing on the theoretical framework of Jacques Donzelot regarding the roles of families as socio-political structures, this research design enables the exploration of family experiences within the realm of the forensic mental health system. Semi-structured interviews with 17 family members of persons in the forensic mental health system in Ontario, Canada, were conducted. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a three-pronged approach aligned with interpretive phenomenology principles, including the spatial, temporal and interpersonal dimensions of lived experiences. Findings indicate that family members of relatives in the forensic mental health system embody many roles, which can be grouped into four categories: security guard and jailer, ‘partner’ in care, advocate and family member/friend. The study concludes that families may experience intrapersonal, interpersonal and intra-familial tension caused by the contradicting roles family members must take on when interacting with the forensic mental health system.