“Yamu” (falling ill) for the youth : a “menhera” narrative by female students

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Other Title
  • 若者にとっての「病む」こと : 「“メンヘラ”当事者」としての女子学生たちの語り
  • ワカモノ ニ トッテ ノ 「 ヤム 」 コト : 「"メンヘラ"トウジシャ 」 ト シテ ノ ジョシ ガクセイ タチ ノ カタリ

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Description

“Menhera” is a slang term, a youth term, which is said to have originated on the Internet and is closely related to“mental illness”. In the past, studies on the subject of “menhera” have focused on the representation of “menhera” in manga and the tendency to use the word “menhera”. However, the actual experiences of the people who use the term have not been sufficiently examined. In this study, we interviewed students who were trying to understand themselves by using the term “menhera” and considered what kind of experiences they were talking about as “menhera” and what “illness” they were talking about. From the narratives of the participants, it was suggested that the hurt caused by not being able to connect with the other person even though they wanted to, and the “excessive” actions taken by the participants due to their emotions during such hurt, is the “illness” expressed as “menhera”. In previous studies, the negative aspects of self-labeling using words such as “menhera” have been emphasized. However, in this study, it was shown that the perspective of “menhera” can provide an opportunity for people to rethink themselves when they face problems and difficulties in their lives. In light of this ambiguity, it seems clinically significant to confront the discourse of “menhera” that people use to talk about their own “illness” experiences.

Journal

  • 臨床心理発達相談室紀要

    臨床心理発達相談室紀要 5 1-31, 2022-03-18

    Counselling room for Developmental and Clinical Needs, Faculty of Education, Hokkaido University

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