Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Dr. Ali Shariati, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran.
2 Social Work Expert, Department of Social Sciences, Dr. Ali Shariati Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran.
3 PhD student in Economic Sociology and Development, Department of Social Sciences, Dr. Ali Shariati Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Ferdowsi University, Mashhad.
Abstract
Psychiatric patients, as a marginalized and silent group, are often deprived of visibility and voice in society. This ethnographic study, conducted in a psychiatric hospital, aims to illuminate the hidden dimensions of patients' lives and reflect on the realities of human and structural interactions within this environment. The research employs an ethnographic approach, utilizing participant observation techniques. The field of study is a hospital in the country. The study population includes social workers, nurses, and patients. Sampling was performed purposively, selecting individuals who played key roles in patient-worker interactions. The findings reveal six key themes: 1-Hospital environment and lack of facilities in different wards. 2- Psychiatric patients exposed to exhausted support systems. 3- Stigmatization in interactions with psychiatric patients. 4-Segregation of patients from staff. 5-Disciplinary care: From order to violence. 6-Challenges of working with psychiatric patients. The results indicate that many conflicts, acts of violence, and inefficiencies stem from flawed, outdated, and unequal structures—structures that not only fail to support patients but also push healthcare workers to reproduce violence, indifference, and discrimination.
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