Shifting the narrative from ‘what's wrong?’ to ‘what's strong?’ MIND ‐ MAP : A qualitative study exploring positive mental health and support needs of adults with diabetes
Authors' conclusion
Adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes show resilience in managing mental health, yet systemic, practical and attitudinal barriers remain. Care models should build on personal strengths, normalise emotional support and integrate psychological care from diagnosis, as well as harness the value of peer support.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with T1D or T2D from the MIND-MAP cohort study, Victoria, Australia
- Participants
- 32 adults
- Outcome
- Factors fostering positive mental health and support needs
Methodological detailssemi-structured online interviews, purposive sampling, reflexive thematic analysis, co-designed, Co-designed with a multidisciplinary Steering Committee and a Community Advisory Group of 12 adults with T1D or T2D
- Semi-structured online interviews
- Purposive sampling
- Reflexive thematic analysis
- Co-designed
- Co-designed with a multidisciplinary Steering Committee and a Community Advisory Group of 12 adults with T1D or T2D
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Internal strengths (e.g. acceptance, perspective-taking) and external supports (e.g. peer connections, empathetic health professionals, timely access to mental health care) supported mental health
- Barriers to mental health support: limited-service access, geographic and financial constraints, discomfort discussing emotions, lack of diabetes-specific mental health expertise
- Emotional support often absent at diagnosis and other key transition points
- Participants called for empathetic, non-judgemental, tailored support embedded within diabetes services
Original publication
Shifting the narrative from ‘what's wrong?’ to ‘what's strong?’ MIND ‐ MAP : A qualitative study exploring positive mental health and support needs of adults with diabetes. Diabet Med. Published 12 March 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →