1
TITLE:
AN EXPLORATORY STUDY: UNDERSTANDING OF
MENTALHEALTH AND MENTAL ILLNESS.
STUDENT NAME: Insaaf Roman
STUDENT NUMBER: 56094140
COURSE NAME: Research Report
COURSE CODE: HRPY81
DEPARTMENT: Department of Psychology
,PLAGIARISM DECLARATION
• I know that plagiarism means taking and using the ideas, writings, works or inventions of
another as if they were one’s own. I know that plagiarism not only includes verbatim copying,
but also the extensive use of another person’s ideas without proper acknowledgement (which
includes the proper use of quotation marks). I know that plagiarism covers the use of material
found in textual sources and from the Internet.
• I acknowledge and understand that plagiarism is wrong.
• I understand that my assignment must be accurately referenced.
• This research proposal is my own work. I acknowledge that copying someone else’s
research, orpart of it, is wrong, and that submitting identical work to others constitutes a form
of plagiarism.
• I have not allowed, nor will I in the future allow, anyone to copy my work with the
intention ofpassing it off as their own work.
• I confirm that I have read and understood UNISA’s Policy for Copyright and
Plagiarism -https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Apply-for-
admission/Master%27s- HYPERLINK "http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Apply-
for-admission/Master%27s-%26-"& HYPERLINK
"http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Apply-for-admission/Master%27s-%26-"-
doctoraldegrees/Policies,-procedures-&-forms
Name………I… ns…a…
af…R…o…
m…an…………………… Student No:
..5
...6
...0
...9..4
...1
...4
...0......................
Signed…………………………………………….
Date…………2…9…M
…a…
y… …2…
20 0………………………..
Table of Contents
, ABSTRACT
The proposed research aims to explore how mental health and mental illness is understood in a
South African context. South Africa is a diverse country which ultimately leads to people
having different views and knowledge about concepts in life. With this being said there is
also a major issue in the awareness people have about mental health and mental illness. The
lack of knowledge could be inhibiting us from helping friends and family in need because we
don’t understand the concept. A qualitative study will allow us to explore the understanding
people have about mental health and mental illness. This study will take on a theoretical
framework of systems theory and a paradigmatic framework of social constructionism. Three
South Africans over the age of 18 with different cultural backgrounds and no history of mental
disorders will be selected through the purposive sampling strategy to participate in a semi-
structured Skype interview (due to the Lock down regulations). The data collected will be
analysed using the thematic analyses. The findings will reveal if there are themes- which
refers to patterns, ideas subject, meaning or common experience- that emerges from the data.
--------------------------------------------
You have an introduction but could have beterintroduced the topic and its relevance, linked it to the
problem statement, and/or grounded it in literature.
INTRODUCTION
This study will attempt to answer the question: What are the people of South Africa’s
understanding towards mental illness and mental health? The need for this study arises because
mental disorders are increasing all around the world. The fact that mental disorders can have
an effect on our lives with regard to our performance, relationships with our family and friends
and even our involvement in our community; it is therefore important that we identify how
people understand mental health and mental disorder because this could affect their lives if a
friend of family member experiences a mental disorder. This study will clarify the
understanding people have of psychopathology in South Africa. The study will be done with
semi-structured skype interviews of three people from different cultural backgrounds. A
TITLE:
AN EXPLORATORY STUDY: UNDERSTANDING OF
MENTALHEALTH AND MENTAL ILLNESS.
STUDENT NAME: Insaaf Roman
STUDENT NUMBER: 56094140
COURSE NAME: Research Report
COURSE CODE: HRPY81
DEPARTMENT: Department of Psychology
,PLAGIARISM DECLARATION
• I know that plagiarism means taking and using the ideas, writings, works or inventions of
another as if they were one’s own. I know that plagiarism not only includes verbatim copying,
but also the extensive use of another person’s ideas without proper acknowledgement (which
includes the proper use of quotation marks). I know that plagiarism covers the use of material
found in textual sources and from the Internet.
• I acknowledge and understand that plagiarism is wrong.
• I understand that my assignment must be accurately referenced.
• This research proposal is my own work. I acknowledge that copying someone else’s
research, orpart of it, is wrong, and that submitting identical work to others constitutes a form
of plagiarism.
• I have not allowed, nor will I in the future allow, anyone to copy my work with the
intention ofpassing it off as their own work.
• I confirm that I have read and understood UNISA’s Policy for Copyright and
Plagiarism -https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Apply-for-
admission/Master%27s- HYPERLINK "http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Apply-
for-admission/Master%27s-%26-"& HYPERLINK
"http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Apply-for-admission/Master%27s-%26-"-
doctoraldegrees/Policies,-procedures-&-forms
Name………I… ns…a…
af…R…o…
m…an…………………… Student No:
..5
...6
...0
...9..4
...1
...4
...0......................
Signed…………………………………………….
Date…………2…9…M
…a…
y… …2…
20 0………………………..
Table of Contents
, ABSTRACT
The proposed research aims to explore how mental health and mental illness is understood in a
South African context. South Africa is a diverse country which ultimately leads to people
having different views and knowledge about concepts in life. With this being said there is
also a major issue in the awareness people have about mental health and mental illness. The
lack of knowledge could be inhibiting us from helping friends and family in need because we
don’t understand the concept. A qualitative study will allow us to explore the understanding
people have about mental health and mental illness. This study will take on a theoretical
framework of systems theory and a paradigmatic framework of social constructionism. Three
South Africans over the age of 18 with different cultural backgrounds and no history of mental
disorders will be selected through the purposive sampling strategy to participate in a semi-
structured Skype interview (due to the Lock down regulations). The data collected will be
analysed using the thematic analyses. The findings will reveal if there are themes- which
refers to patterns, ideas subject, meaning or common experience- that emerges from the data.
--------------------------------------------
You have an introduction but could have beterintroduced the topic and its relevance, linked it to the
problem statement, and/or grounded it in literature.
INTRODUCTION
This study will attempt to answer the question: What are the people of South Africa’s
understanding towards mental illness and mental health? The need for this study arises because
mental disorders are increasing all around the world. The fact that mental disorders can have
an effect on our lives with regard to our performance, relationships with our family and friends
and even our involvement in our community; it is therefore important that we identify how
people understand mental health and mental disorder because this could affect their lives if a
friend of family member experiences a mental disorder. This study will clarify the
understanding people have of psychopathology in South Africa. The study will be done with
semi-structured skype interviews of three people from different cultural backgrounds. A
