Psychiatric patients encounter many difficulties post-discharge reflected by quantitative data such as high suicide rates within the first 3 months. However, little is known about why discharge is so difficult. This article aimed to understand the lived experience of being discharged from a psychiatric unit. Eight participants were interviewed to explore their experiences of discharge. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyse data. Four superordinate themes emerged: leaving hospital; the outside world; the journey to health; and self-identity/beliefs. Clinical implications and suggestions for further research are discussed.
Keywords: Discharge planning; Inpatient; Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA); Lived experience; Mental health and illness; Suicide.