Citation

Bien C. Am. J. Psychiatr. Rehabil. 2019; 22(1-2): 114-123.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article applies a citizenship lens to a narrative of personal and familial trauma, refugee flight, immigration, psychosis, and, over time, the building of a life and rebuilding of sense of self. Rowe's citizenship model offers a useful framework for considering the familial, social, governmental, and societal conditions that shape people's lives and minds. It supports the thesis that substantial possession of the 5 Rs of Citizenship (rights, responsibilities, roles, resources, and relationships), plus a sense of belonging (Rowe, 2015) in at least a few of the systems we occupy--familial, social, educational, vocational, civic, and faith--are essential to a person's ability to establish or maintain a full and productive life within society. Although the article largely reflects a single, personal narrative, it touches upon current research and practice to support its thesis that citizenship as a social and existential construct is multifaceted, requiring an understanding of the impact that legal, material, relational/contextual, and perceptual factors have upon a person's ability to live, and thereby build, a life. © 2019, University of Nebraska Press. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

resilience; suicide; trauma; immigration; depression; psychosis; citizenship; belonging; recovery; 5 Rs; balance between cultures; hearing voices; refugee flight