Exploring experiences of the benefit system for people with severe mental illness: an interpretative phenomenological analysis study

Purpose This paper aims to understand the lived experiences of people with severe mentalillness navigating the benefits system. The UK’s benefit system has undergone considerable changes over the last decade. The current system is associated with psychological distress for claimants, with psychological processes (e.g. stigma) hypothesised as mechanisms underlying distress. Design/methodology/approach Individual interviews were conducted with 10 people who have claimed benefits over at least five years due to their severe mental health difficulties. Transcripts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Findings Three superordinate themes “the system has become hostile,” “traumatised by contact with the system,” and “trapped: stuck between a misunderstood and unwanted reality and the longing for change” were generated. Distress associated with the system focused on experiences of powerlessness, stigma, shame and forced disclosure, deception and threat, inaccessible processes and misunderstandings of mental illness. Participants described increased symptoms of mental illness and felt unable to exit the system, despite longing for work and ’normality’. Originality/value The current system is not equipped to support individuals with severe and enduring mental health difficulties. Significant changes within the system are required to reduce the traumatic impact for these people. Both individual and community interventions may help services to become more trauma-informed.