Embracing the biomedical: Parents’ stories of the moral, affective and pragmatic challenges of caring for a child with a diagnosis of mental illness

This research explored the experience of parents caring for a child or young person who has a diagnosis of mental illness. By focusing on people’s stories and the intricacies of their daily life and routines, the research drew attention to the complexity of individual experience, impacted by prevailing discourse about early identification of, and intervention with, diagnoses of mental illness. This thesis argues that biomedical models of support shape and intensify families' experiences in complex ways. The stories collected capture the affective, moral and transformative nature of mental illness diagnoses and treatment practices within families.