Held six-session educational and support groups for parents (n=32) with schizophrenic adolescents. Found no significant increases in knowledge about schizophrenia following group (probably a result of relatively high scores at outset), but gains were found in ability to handle adolescent at home. All parents commented on benefits received from…

This paper examines the major conflicts and stresses which surround the coming of age in rural Ireland today and which commonly contribute to mental breakdown. The study is based on ten months of participant observation in an Irish-speaking village of Southwest Kerry, combined with weekly visits to the county mental hospital. The author uses a…