A Qualitative Study on the Experiences of Minorities with Mental Disabilities Hospitalized in Psychiatric Hospitals

The purpose of this study is to examine issues related to the protection of rights and the recognition of identity among minorities with mental disabilities who are hospitalized in psychiatric institutions. Employing a thematic analysis approach grounded in Patton (2002), this qualitative inquiry focuses on the lived experiences of seven individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, all of whom were inpatients at a psychiatric hospital at the time of the study. The analysis revealed two overarching thematic domains: the protection of rights and the recognition of identity. Within the domain of rights protection, three major themes emerged: social marginalization, social isolation, and disruption of social mobility. In the domain of identity recognition, the study identified three principal themes: absence of recognizing agents, othering of existence, and conflict in recognition expectations. Each theme was further elaborated through specific sub-themes that captured nuanced aspects of participants' experiences. Participants consistently expressed a desire to exercise their fundamental human rights and to be acknowledged as individuals with inherent identity and dignity. These findings offer significant contributions to ongoing academic and policy discussions regarding the rights and identity recognition of minorities with mental disabilities, highlighting the urgent need for systemic and discursive transformation within mental health institutions.