A qualitative study of letters to President Kennedy from persons with mental illness and their families: Using the research poem in policy oriented research

Abstract

Using the research poem as a tool of data representation, this paper presents findings from an analysis of letters sent to President John F. Kennedy regarding the formulation of mental health policy during the early 1960s. The article presents the experiences ofconsumers of mental health services and their families - shapers and receivers of mental health provisions that are in frequently given voice. Traditional thematic analysis was conducted, and data subsequently were represented in three poetic forms: free verse, the pantoum, and the tanka.