Personal Crisis Research Articles

The Power of Qualitative Research: Cultivating Autoethnography for Personal Awakening, Humanity, and Transformation

This article is an autoethnography of how engaging with my previous autoethnographic article facilitated my recovery and self-growth. I wrote my previous piece (Nguyen-Trung, 2022) while stranded in Australia due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which prevented me from visiting my grandfather one last time before his passing in 2021. If my past autoethnography focused on the themes of death, grief, and loss, the current article’s autoethnography revolves around awakening, healing, and self-transformation. In this current article, I reflexively look back on my autoethnographic journey and reflect on how it impacted me as a grandchild and a human being on the one hand, and a qualitative sociologist and a writer on the other. I tell stories of how, since writing my first autoethnography and sharing it with others, whether at an academic conference, a meeting, a social encounter, or via a social media post, I managed to overcome the darkest time of my life and gradually heal my personal crisis and somehow transform myself. There were three key lessons learned from such a journey: the emergence of self-awareness, the significance of empathy and humanity within research communities, and the therapeutic and transformative potential of writing.

RESILIENCE OF UKRAINIANS AS A FACTOR OF NATIONAL SECURITY IN WAR CONDITIONS

Vectors for the study of human resiliency can be found in concepts of the life path, in models of the life world, in works devoted to the study of a person’s resistance to stress, his personal and meaningful life potentials, existential and personal crises. The paper traces evolution of resiliency concept and considers phenomenon of resiliency during war conflicts based on the example of current war in Ukraine.

The Politics of Personal Crisis: How Life Disruptions Shape Political Participation

AbstractEconomic risk and instability are urgent and central facts in the lives of increasing numbers of Americans. Though experienced as “personal,” the causes of life disruptions like unemployment, eviction, and loss of health insurance are also deeply political. In this paper, we build on existing “single crisis” studies to offer a comprehensive theoretical and empirical picture of how life disruptions shape political behavior. We use several large surveys to show that personal crises generally dampen turnout but sometimes spur other political acts. We also find that highly politicized crises (such as those related to COVID) boost all forms of participation. Our findings speak to the importance of considering life disruptions in the study of political behavior, particularly in an era when the lives of Americans are especially precarious.

The Lesser Examined Coming of Age: Luchino Visconti’s Death in Venice (1971)

This study is a combination of Simone de Beauvoir’s phenomenological studies and Christopher Bollas’s theories on object-relations psychoanalysis to contextualize the age-induced anxieties as revealed through Luchino Visconti’s Death in Venice (1971). I will utilize Beauvoir’s The Coming of Age, which focuses on the affairs of older people as they are disparaged by a society that problematizes and isolates their aging bodies to establish the situation of the film’s protagonist, Gustav von Aschenbach (Dirk Bogarde), within a larger sociological climate. This conscious, lived experience Beauvoir describes is the manifestation of what Bollas notes as the “generative state”: a mood space that allows for a subject to regress into a former, childhood state to negotiate their current affairs, often brought forth by personal crisis. The subject, in this case, is Gustav—an aging composer who travels to Venice per recommendation of his doctor following a poorly received concert, which led to sickness. The anxiety boiling inside him cools over time with help from his generative state—communicated through the film’s visual form and gesture—upon first sight of Tadzio, a boy who embodies the traditional Western standard of beauty found in the young. He further acts as Gustav’s object of desire, that is a longing for both youth and the physical abilities it provides, which ultimately allows for his recognition of life’s inevitability death. Death in Venice, in its simultaneous examination of beauty and decay, operates both as a reminder of the harm in denying one’s age and as a criticism of the societal antipathy that leads many, like Gustav, down a self-loathing-filled path fueled by aging, and finally demise.

A Psychoanalyst's Confrontation With Illness, Aging, and Death.

Offering a personal example, the author argues for the protocols of respectful, confidential, and responsible institutional support as a corrective to an individual clinician's lack of optimal judgment when facing difficult clinical challenges or personal crises.

Complexity of mentalization.

The ability to understand other people’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors is associated with an individual’s ability and his attitude in the context of relationships. The development of this process is associated with different psychosocial factors: parental competence, building a secure attachment and reduced risk of violence in the family as well as the future intrapersonal relationships and social reality of one person Mentalization is empirically associated with resolving psychological tasks in normative dilemmas and also, can influence on the outcome of personal and situational crises. And so forth, passing through the different stages of life and prevention of dysfunctional patterns in the family is facilitated. This text aims to investigate the main characteristics of mentalization, its connection with the etiopathogenesis of some main mental disorders, their course and prognosis. Several studies in recent years confirmed that these connections can enroll mentalization to prevention and psychological therapy in some mental disorders and dysfunctional thinking patterns. On the other hand, it serves as a basis for psychotherapeutic competence expressed in the ability to connect, differentiate, and separate, as the main interactional stages of the psychotherapeutic process.

The Long Way to Emancipation in Margaret Laurence’s A Jest of God

Lauren Berlant’s critical stance proves instrumental to carry out the analysis of Margaret Laurence’s A Jest of God, a story dealing with personal insecurities and crises, related to feelings of loss, trauma, suffering or failure. There is no doubt that Rachel, the protagonist and first-person narrator, encompasses all the trappings around the notion of “cruel optimism,” and the novel can be considered as a drama of adjustment, where the fantasies of the “good life” are interweaved with the suffocation of ordinary life. Rachel will have to dismantle the view that by being both a good citizen and a loving daughter she may achieve happiness or, at least, peace of mind. This story of personal struggle and emancipation can be eventually related to the political circumstances in Canada’s long process towards autonomy and independence.

Female radicalisation in Bangladesh: an investigation of its scope, extent and key motivations behind

ABSTRACT This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the intricate dynamics surrounding female involvement in jihadism in Bangladesh. Drawing on expert interviews and surveys, the study uncovers a multifaceted picture of this phenomenon. Three distinct categories of factors – push, pull, and facilitating – emerge as central in explaining the surge in female participation within militant groups in the region. Push factors, which encompass grievances and vulnerabilities arising from personal crises, poverty and family breakdown, create an environment ripe for radicalisation. The concept of “humiliation by proxy,” where global Muslim victimisation serves as a motivating force, further deepens our understanding of this process. Pull factors reveal that ideological allure, the pursuit of glory, adventure, and the evolving gender roles offered by groups like the Islamic State play a significant role in attracting women to extremist ideologies. The article underscores that the desire for paradise is not confined to men alone but extends to women. Facilitating factors, such as influential family members and online platforms, are pivotal in shaping female radicalisation. Cultural loyalty, particularly from husbands and fathers, empowers them to influence women towards extremism. The internet acts as a powerful tool, facilitating exposure to radical ideologies and virtual group bonding, creating echo chambers that reinforce extremist beliefs.

Non-psychotic Outcomes in Young People at Ultra-High Risk of Developing a Psychotic Disorder: A Long-Term Follow-up Study.

The majority of individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis do not transition to a full threshold psychotic disorder. It is therefore important to understand their longer-term clinical and functional outcomes, particularly given the high prevalence of comorbid mental disorders in this population at baseline. This study investigated the prevalence of non-psychotic disorders in the UHR population at entry and long-term follow-up and their association with functional outcomes. Persistence of UHR status was also investigated. The sample comprised 102 UHR young people from the Personal Assessment and Crisis Evaluation (PACE) Clinic who had not transitioned to psychosis by long-term follow-up (mean = 8.8 years, range = 6.8-12.1 years since baseline). Eighty-eight percent of participants at baseline were diagnosed with at least one mental disorder, the majority of which were mood disorders (78%), anxiety disorders (35%), and substance use disorders (SUDs) (18%). This pattern of disorder prevalence continued at follow-up, though prevalence was reduced, with 52% not meeting criteria for current non-psychotic mental disorder. However, 35% of participants developed a new non-psychotic mental disorder by follow-up. Presence of a continuous non-psychotic mental disorder was associated with poorer functional outcomes at follow-up. 28% of participants still met UHR criteria at follow-up. The study adds to the evidence base that a substantial proportion of UHR individuals who do not transition to psychosis experience persistent attenuated psychotic symptoms and persistent and incident non-psychotic disorders over the long term. Long-term treatment and re-entry into services is indicated.

Care giving and receiving for people with complex emotional needs within a crisis resolution/home treatment setting: A qualitative evidence synthesis.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: The term 'complex emotional needs' (CEN) is used here to describe people with difficulties and needs that are often associated with the diagnostic label of 'personality disorder'. People with CEN might use out of hours services such as emergency departments and Crisis Resolution/Home Treatment (CRHT) teams more often when experiencing a mental health crisis. Very little is understood about the experiences of both those receiving, and those delivering care, for people with CEN within CRHT settings. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: There are differences between priorities for those delivering and those receiving care within CRHT settings. CRHT staff members are likely to focus more upon those aspects of their role relating to risk issues. managing resources, anxieties and the expectations of others. Service users, meanwhile, focus upon the caring relationship, wanting staff to listen to them, and to feel supported and reassured. In the papers reviewed, service users experiencing CEN did not always feel 'listened to' or 'taken seriously' especially in relation to risk issues and decision-making. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Relating the findings to mental health nursing and CEN within the context of CRHT, to better understand the person experiencing a mental health crisis, mental health nurses need to focus more upon the person and when making decisions around their care and must be aware of the potential for power imbalances. Collaborative 'sense-making' in relation to a person's risk behaviours may help. ABSTRACT: Background A growing body of qualitative evidence focusing upon the experiences of care within Crisis Resolution/Home Treatment (CRHT) is emerging; however, a firm evidence base regarding both the giving and receiving of care for those with complex emotional needs (CEN) in this context is yet to be established. Objective A qualitative evidence synthesis was used to develop a comprehensive understanding of how crisis care for people with CEN is experienced by both those giving and receiving care, within the context of CRHT. Method Findings from 19 research papers considering both clinician and service users' experiential accounts of CRHT were synthesised using meta-ethnography. Findings Both the giving and receiving of care within a CRHT context was experienced across four related meta-themes: 'contextual', 'functional', 'relational' and 'decisional'. Discussion Service user accounts focused upon relational aspects, highlighting a significance to their experience of care. Meanwhile, clinicians focused more upon contextual issues linked to the management of organisational anxieties and resources. For those with CEN, a clinician's focus upon risk alone highlighted power differentials in the caring relationship. Conclusions There is a need for nurses to connect with the experience of the person in crisis, ensuring a better balance between contextual issues and relational working.

ViolHelp: results of a pilot study to identify potential warning signs and risk factors for self- and hetero-directed violence in the calls received by the Helplines of the Italian National Institute of Health.

Self- and hetero-directed violence (SHDV) is a serious public health problem and a complex phenomenon, influenced by individual and environmental factors. SHDV may occur particularly in moments of personal, economic and/or social crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the ISS-Helplines operators have perceived an increase in psychological distress and self-isolation among callers. The ViolHelp project aimed at identifying potential warning signs and risk factors of SHDV emerging in the activity of the ISS-Helplines (Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ISS, Italian National Institute of Health). A dashboard collecting warning signs and risk factors of SHDV was developed to be used during the ISS-Helplines activity. In one year of data collection, 135 calls were compiled. In 106 calls, callers referred experienced violence: 72 self-directed violence (SDV), 20 hetero-directed violence (HDV), 14 both. The most frequent warning signs and risk factors for SDV were desire to die (68.6%), previous suicide attempts (31.4%) and threat of self-harm (25.6%); for HDV were depressed mood (32.4%), diagnosis of pathology and/or psychiatric disorders, desire to die, use of psychotropic drugs, and alcohol abuse (29.4%). The results of this pilot project show the importance of being able to read the warning signs and to create a network that can improve information, prevention and support activities for people at risk of violence and their families.

La práctica de los CEO experimentados: Líderes relacionales ante situaciones de crisis

Background: Most studies on leadership mainly focus on the role of the leader, seeking to understand the most appropriate style of behavior to lead, considering leadership a one-sided phenomenon. As a result, they end up neglecting some important roles among those led, such as, for example, the reciprocal relationship between leaders and followers and the influence of organizations in this relationship. Moving from the understanding of a traditional leadership to a Relational Leadership becomes, therefore, an important step towards understanding the phenomenon of leadership. Purpose: This article analyzes how highly successful and experienced CEOs who have been leading large corporations perceive the influence of Relational Leadership to overcome moments of organizational and personal crisis. Method: In the qualitative research, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 CEOs (9 men and 3 women, around 60 years old) that have been leaders of several corporations in Brazil and abroad for more than 30 years. Results: The results show that the CEOs perceived the strong and positive influence of relational leadership to successfully face economic, political and personal crisis. The CEOs practices are related to the Relational Leadership Theory: 1) multilateral relationship; 2) human social construction; 3) relationships based on trust; 4) collective dimension; 5) communication to foster better decisions. These practices were also identified as antidotes to the solitude of power inherent to the CEOs` position. Conclusions: Successful CEOs who have walked a long road leading corporations perceive the strong and positive influence of Relational Leadership to face crisis. So, the study has theoretical implications when it points out Relational Leadership as effective in crisis situations, since the literature relates crisis with transformational leadership in most cases.

Procedurally just policing and persons in behavioral crises: investigating public perceptions, stigma and emotion

PurposeThe police often respond to persons who are not in direct violation of the law, but are rather undergoing behavioral crises due to mental illness or substance abuse disorders. The purpose of this study is to examine how police behavior influences civilian bystanders' emotional responses and perceptions of procedural justice (PPJ) when officers interact with these populations, which traditionally have been stigmatized in American culture.Design/methodology/approachUsing a factorial vignette approach, the authors investigate whether perceived public stigma moderates the relationship between police behaviors (i.e. CIT tactics, use of force) and PPJ. The authors also investigate whether emotional reactions mediate the relationship between police behaviors and PPJ.FindingsRegardless of suspect population (mental illness, substance use), use of force decreased participants' PPJ, and use of CIT tactics increased PPJ. These effects were consistently mediated by anger, but not by fear. Interactive effects of police behavior and perceived public stigma on PPJ were mixed.Originality/valueFear and anger may operate differently as antecedents to PPJ. Officers should note using force on persons in behavioral crisis, even if legally justifiable, seems to decrease PPJ. They should weigh this cost pragmatically, alongside other circumstances, when making discretionary decisions about physically engaging with a person in crisis.

Johan August Strindberg – Chemist

An eminent Swedish author and playwright abandoned literary activities and began to pursue scientific interests, especially chemistry, during the period of his personal crisis, which he called inferno. He created a special approach, called by him unitary chemistry (chimie unitaire), according to which all substances are composed of hydrogen units. On the basis of the unitary chemistry, he described atoms and molecules as combinations of arbitrary other substances while maintaining the same atomic or molecular weights. His views on composition and preparation of sulfur and iodine, and especially his famous attempt to produce gold, are described as examples.

Рsychology of interventions in personality crisis states

Стаття присвячена аналізу психологічних аспектів інтервенцій при кризових станах особистості. Проаналізовано поняття «криза» та «кризовий стан» у розумінні вітчизняних та зарубіжних авторів. Проведено розгляд вікових криз як етапів становлення особистості та обґрунтовано способи проживання вікової кризи як фактору формування характерологічних особливостей особистості. Зроблено висновок, що кризовий стан містить у собі можливість переходу на новий рівень організації особистості, внаслідок діалектичної природи емоційно-поведінкового реагування у кризовій ситуації як ситуації, що повʼязана з загрозою, та обґрунтовується розуміння кризи особистості як внутрішнього ресурсу психіки для саморозвитку. Проводиться порівняльний аналіз кризи особистості та кризової ситуації, а також особливостей надання психологічної допомоги. Пропонується модель надання психологічної допомоги у рамках короткострокового консультування, що сприяє конструктивному вирішенню кризи особистості. Основою інтервенції стає питання психологічного сенсу кризи. Наголошується на важливості використання феноменологічного методу як основи консультування при кризових станах.

Bringing companions together: how we support, develop and spread Open Dialogue practice in Flanders, Belgium

The main goal of this workshop is to exchange together on the values of the Open Dialogue approach, from the different perspectives and experiences of professionals, people with lived experience and people with family experience.
 Structure of the session:
 15 min. introduction: The Open Dialogue approach was first established in Western Lapland (Finland) and is gaining wider development in international practice. This approach been remarkably helpful in different situations and contexts, always possible starting from within a personal mental health crisis - without hesitation or delay - and with further flexible, sustainable support for everyone who is involved in this together. In the Open Dialogue approach professionals seek connection and dialogue with and between everyone involved. Without delay, to listen openly to the different voices, experiences and perspectives. In searching for a new understanding to carry on together, there’s time and a future to be won. Following seven core principles, Open Dialogue translates "being with” and ""doing with" concepts to a dialogical practice.
 15 min. Presentation of different case studies or contexts: Involving many teams in different regions, Open Dialogue practice is also developing in Flanders, Belgium. In cooperation with mental health organisations, people with lived experience, people with family experience, social welfare partners and training of health professionals/peer workers, teams are also actively connecting Open Dialogue practice to strengthening and spreading other community-based, right-based and recovery-based practices.
 25 min. Interaction: Exchanging reflections with the audience
 5 min. Interactive closing together: Gathering take home messages and looking forward to further steps in Open Dialogue development

Between Canada and Italy; or, lives and identities in transition: A reading of Where She Has Gone by Nino Ricci

This article focuses on the third novel of Nino Ricci's trilogy about Italian immigration in Canada. More precisely, taking my cue from the theme of nostos in the sense of a search for a fully-fledged identity, I will analyse the way that Where She Has Gone dramatizes the protagonist's predicament in terms of personal conflicts, psychological trauma and sexual ambiguities. Vittorio Innocente is a hero whose life seems to be split between Canada and Italy: this is at the origin of his personal crisis which is characterized by a deeply ingrained sense of peril. In many respects, the main point of the story is represented by the protagonist's return to Italy where he intends to meet all those people who knew him. In fact, he left for Canada as an eight-year-old boy with his pregnant mother who died during the journey after giving birth to a daughter named Rita. While living in Toronto, Vittorio has an incestuous relationship with his younger half-sister Rita, who was the fruit of their mother's adultery in Valle del Sole (Molise). The most dramatic moment of the diegesis takes place when Vittorio meets Rita in Valle del Sole as both are returning from Canada by different routes. Significantly, by looking into their mother's past, they both decide to give up their tormented relationship. The protagonist's journey back to his native village can be seen not only as that of an intellectual in search of his own roots but also as a compelling wish to meet, after many years, his own historic and socio-cultural past in order to better understand his unresolved life as well as his role in Canadian society.

Strengthen students' sense of responsibility in learning PJOK through the TPSR model

The complexity of issues surrounding character or morality has suddenly become a troubling thought with a personality or moral crisis characterized by an increase in violent crime, bullying, drug addiction, pornography and promiscuity that has become a pathology of society. The methodology used in this research is library research. The purpose of literature research is to use the information obtained to describe the content obtained or the information obtained. The data sources used come from research articles from various national and international sources that are published and can be downloaded on the internet such as Google Scholar, Scopus, Garuda, Sinta, Taylor and Francis using the PICO method. In some of the studies that have been discussed, there are similarities in the application of the Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility model in PJOK learning with the aim of producing and increasing individual and social responsibility. Based on the summary of the 15 posts, it can be concluded that the TPSR model is a suitable approach to increase students' individual and social responsibility in personality development in the context of PJOK subjects. By analyzing the literature sources, it can be concluded that the Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility (TPSR) model has proven effective in increasing students' personal and social responsibility. There are 15 articles or journals that document in detail the successful application of the TPSR model in Physical Education, Sports and Health (PJOK) education. Therefore, it can be suggested that this model can provide assistance in creating or increasing students' sense of personal and social responsibility in character development in the context of PJOK subjects.

Combining Clinical With Cognitive or Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data for Predicting Transition to Psychosis in Ultra High-Risk Patients: Data From the PACE 400 Cohort

BackgroundMultimodal modeling that combines biological and clinical data shows promise in predicting transition to psychosis in individuals who are at ultra-high risk. Individuals who transition to psychosis are known to have deficits at baseline in cognitive function and reductions in gray matter volume in multiple brain regions identified by magnetic resonance imaging. MethodsIn this study, we used Cox proportional hazards regression models to assess the additive predictive value of each modality—cognition, cortical structure information, and the neuroanatomical measure of brain age gap—to a previously developed clinical model using functioning and duration of symptoms prior to service entry as predictors in the Personal Assessment and Crisis Evaluation (PACE) 400 cohort. The PACE 400 study is a well-characterized cohort of Australian youths who were identified as ultra-high risk of transitioning to psychosis using the Comprehensive Assessment of At Risk Mental States (CAARMS) and followed for up to 18 years; it contains clinical data (from N = 416 participants), cognitive data (n = 213), and magnetic resonance imaging cortical parameters extracted using FreeSurfer (n = 231). ResultsThe results showed that neuroimaging, brain age gap, and cognition added marginal predictive information to the previously developed clinical model (fraction of new information: neuroimaging 0%–12%, brain age gap 7%, cognition 0%–16%). ConclusionsIn summary, adding a second modality to a clinical risk model predicting the onset of a psychotic disorder in the PACE 400 cohort showed little improvement in the fit of the model for long-term prediction of transition to psychosis.

Indulgence in Hollowness and Pursuit of Redemption: An In-depth Study of T. S. Eliot’s The Waste Land

T. S. Eliot’s iconic poem, ‘The Waste Land,’ must have its enduring relevance after a century of its publication. It has stood the test of time as a profound exploration of the desolate human condition and the relentless pursuit of redemption. In the context of contemporary society’s search for redemption amidst modern desolation, we hear the echo of T. S. Eliot. Eliot’s pivotal work continues to captivate the attention of its wide range of readers with its haunting depiction of a fragmented and disillusioned world that is in severe need of peace and salvation. This paper tries to shed light on the persistent relevance of ‘The Waste Land’ in a contemporary world marked by social fragmentation, ecological crises, spiritual drought, mental fatigue, and existential anxieties by exploring the themes of disillusionment, decay, and the desperate quest for redemption. This paper also seeks to venture into Eliot’s vast masterpiece to know how it remains an inducing mirror to reflect our own social and personal struggles, disillusionment, identity crisis, and desolation. Moreover, this study delves into the potential avenues of deliverance offered by Eliot’s ‘The Waste Land,’ such as the exploration of spirituality, the power of collective memory, and the necessity of cultural renewal. At the end of the poem, T. S. Eliot comes to the conclusion that he must start the process of self-purification from himself. He decides to follow the three principles of spiritual rebirth; Datta, Dayatvam, and Damyata in his own life with the hope of salvation in an ever-changing world.