“Once mad is always mad†: Mental Health Service Users’ Experience in the Nigeria Labour Market

Background: The dearth of literature on the labour market experience of Mental Health Service Users in Nigeria signifies the dire need to explore service users’ perspectives on issues of employment. Objective: This study explores the Mental Health Service User’s experience on access to the Nigeria labour market. Method: The study adopts an interpretive phenomenological analysis and conducts an unstructured interview method to investigate participants’ experiences and the sense they make out of their daily struggles in seeking employment. Data were thematically coded and supported by participant’s narratives. Results: The findings generated two main themes with six additional subthemes: (1) The hindrance to the MHSU’s economic participation is linked to hostility and discrimination, and institutional factors (the lack of credible response in policy and practice). Also, (2). close networks remain significant for the group’s economic and social adjustment, but it is often not available for all in the labour market. Conclusion: The paper increases our understanding of informal networks’ crucial role when navigating the labour market and shows that it may have severe implications in how policy functions. A more comprehensive study is needed to examine the nature of the informal support system that facilitates access to some and ostracizes others’ needs. Consideration should be given to the policy environment, the role and efficacy of the non-governmental agencies, and the family networks system to understand hindrances to the engagement of MHSU.