Koskela, Sian (2014) Exploring the impacts of criminal victimisation on adults with mental health problems: a qualitative study. (MSc(R) thesis), Kingston University, .

Abstract

Despite a growing body of evidence showing people with mental health problems experience high rates of adulthood criminal victimisation, little is known about the impacts this has on their lives. This study aims to explore the types of impacts people with mental health problems experience when they are victims of crime from their perspective using a qualitative approach. It presents findings from semi-structured interviews with 81 participants experiencing a range of mental health problems who had been victims of crimes in the last three years. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data and concepts of wellbeing, theories of stigma and critical victimology were used to frame understandings of the impacts of crime. Participants reported the ways in which victimisation had negative impacts on multiple domains of their lives: emotional wellbeing; physical health; socio-economic wellbeing; perception of self; and their existing mental health problems. These domains were described as multidimensional, interrelated and situated in the contextual realities of their lives. Participants indicated that the impacts of crime were particularly acute because they interacted with and exacerbated difficulties they were already experiencing as a consequence of having mental health problems. This included increasing feelings of stigma, social isolation and negative self-perception. The extent of these impacts and the meaning they held for participants was influenced by a range of factors including: specific identity attributes; the characteristics of the crime; and interactions with others after crime. For some the complex interplay of factors associated with the impacts of crime and their existing mental health problems triggered and sustained a downward spiral of ill-being and they had lost hope of recovery. The findings are discussed in light of existing literature and some implications for future research and for policy and practice are suggested.

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