Reaching out to people struggling with their lives: a discourse analysis of answers from Internet-based services in Norway and Sweden
Original version
Andersen, A. J. W., & Svensson, T. (2012). Reaching out to people struggling with their lives: a discourse analysis of answers from Internet-based services in Norway and Sweden. Psychology Research and Behavior Management(5), 113-121. doi: 10.2147/prbm.s34524 10.2147/prbm.s34524Abstract
The Internet has enlarged the scope of human communication, opening new avenues for connecting with people who are struggling with their lives. This article presents a discourse analysis of 101 responses to 98 questions that were posted on 14 different Internet-based mental health services in Norway and Sweden. We aimed to examine and describe the dominant understandings and favored recommendations in the services’ answers, and we reflected upon the social consequences of those answers. The services generally understood life struggles as an abnormal state of mind, life rhythms, or self-reinforcing loops. Internet-based mental health services primarily counsel service users to seek help, talk to health care professionals face-to-face, and discuss their life struggles openly and honestly. They also urge service users to take better care of themselves and socialize with other people. However, such answers might enhance the individualization of life problems, masking social origin and construction. Consequently, the services are challenged to include social explanations in their answers and strengthen their responsibility to amplify peoples’ messages at a societal level. Potentially, such answers could strengthen democratic structures and put pressure on social equity.
Description
Published version of an article in the journal: Psychology Research and Behavior Management. Also available from the publisher at: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/prbm.s34524 Open access