“A mother somewhere between life and death”: a qualitative study of mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder within a feminist social work framework

Objective To examine how women diagnosed with bipolar disorder experience and negotiate motherhood through a critical-feminist social work lens. Methods This study conducted a supplementary qualitative secondary analysis within a qualitative design informed by a critical-feminist epistemological position. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews with eight unemployed mothers receiving treatment at the psychiatry clinic of a foundation university hospital in Türkiye were reanalyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. The analysis combined inductive coding with theoretically informed critical-feminist interpretation. Results Six themes captured constrained maternal identity, interruptions to everyday caregiving, guilt and maternal self-evaluation, perceived fragility in mother–child relationships, motherhood as a source of meaning and strength, and shifting family support roles ranging from ordinary assistance to one explicit account of perceived role reversal. These accounts were interpreted in relation to gendered motherhood norms, family authority, and material constraints. Conclusion The findings highlight the need for gender-sensitive, family-oriented psychosocial interventions for mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder.