Chanell Cumber in conversation with Jerome Carson

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of Chanell Cumber.

Design/methodology/approach

Chanell starts by giving a short account of her life. She is then interviewed by Jerome.

Findings

Chanell witnessed years of domestic abuse from her father towards her mother. This led her to develop mental health problems at a young age. Her account reveals her struggles to recover.

Research limitations/implications

While single case studies are just that, they offer us insights that are missing from many professional narratives. These can often allow us a unique window into peoples’ lives.

Practical implications

Chanell points out the need for mental health services to have a more prolonged engagement with people who use services and outlines why this is important.

Social implications

As a society we do not always reach out to quieter individuals who may go under “the radar”. Sometimes being more forward and offering people a chance to open up, may provide them with the opportunity to reveal the pressures they are under.

Originality/value

Each person’s story is unique and gives us differing understandings of the struggles that people battle with and how they have overcome these.

Citation

Cumber, C. and Carson, J. (2017), "Chanell Cumber in conversation with Jerome Carson", Mental Health and Social Inclusion, Vol. 21 No. 1, pp. 13-17. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-08-2016-0021