Recovery and Shame in Forensic services
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Shame and recovery in forensic services. A grounded theory investigation into the significance of shame in the recovery journey.
IRAS ID
318826
Contact name
Ella Neil
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 10 days
Research summary
The aim of the study is to investigate forensic service user’s experiences of shame, and how it impacts on their recovery. Forensic services provide treatment and support for individuals who have been diagnosed with a severe mental health condition and are considered a risk to the public. By investigating individual’s experience of shame and recovery in inpatient and community forensic services, this study is aiming to form a theory as to how shame is experienced in the recovery journey, what impact this has, and what factors influence this at different points in the journey. Understanding how individuals make sense of and understand their experience of shame will be important in forming a theory, as well as how they see that that relates to their recovery.
Recovery is a complex process in forensic services, as there are added factors such as offence related shame and increased stigma from the community. Understanding how recovery and shame are connected, and how this relationship develops throughout recovery is therefore important to investigate. This is important due to the impact that shame has on individual wellbeing, engagement, desire to change and rates of relapse/recidivism. By using grounded theory to build up a picture of this relationship, the involvement of shame in recovery can be better understood, and service users can be better supported with this. Rather than looking at a specific type of shame, the project will be guided by the participant, to talk about the type of shame that is relevant to them.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/NW/0088
Date of REC Opinion
3 May 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion