This research is conducted within a postmodern and social construction discourse and in context of narrative and participatory pastoral care and therapy. It has been influenced by the voices of five contextual theologies: a participatory approach to practical theology, narrative, contextual, feminist and liberation theologies. The participatory action research seeks to highlight how narrative and participatory pastoral care and therapy with children at Mary Ward Children’s Home, Kwekwe, Zimbabwe creates an inclusive and caring community. It argues that though residential childcare facilities/children’s homes are considered the last resort in the childcare system, we are witnessing not their demise but their development due to the increased numbers of AIDS-orphans and other vulnerable children in our society. The research aims were:  To develop inclusive narrative and participatory pastoral care and therapy practices at the home.  To co-create narrative and participatory pastoral care and therapy practices that respect the knowledges of the children involved.  To develop an eco-spirituality as participatory pastoral care and therapy practice.  To explore and co-author creative practices of doing narrative and participatory pastoral care and therapy practices which will help the participants integrate into the Home and society. In conclusion, suggestions are made for a narrative and participatory pastoral care and therapy practice that is inclusive and caring. In terms of the experience of children living with disability and experiencing loss, as well as those children who have been abused, it is specifically described as therapeutic, empowering and life-giving. Therefore, home managers, caregivers and pastoral therapists are invited into an ethical and passionate practice of pastoral care and therapy that has the potential to transform the lives of children in a residential child care facility. / Thesis (D. Th. (Practical Theology))

The aim of this paper is to explain the policy process of regional social service development strategies in the area of services for drug users. The process is explained on examination of two cases of very diverse regional strategies representing good and bad practice. Social construction of target populations is used as a theoretical framework and the research aims to verify and develop its theoretical assumptions. Subjective perceptions of key actors are deconstructed through public document analysis and in- depth interviews. Service providers are perceived as a trustworthy and competent policy actor and as such they play an important role in the development of medium-term strategy. The prevailing positive construction of drug users by providers and the strong position of service providers contribute to broad distribution of services for drug users in both examined regions. The main difference between the cases is explained by different perception of drug users by the public, different continuity of planning processes, and variance in the dynamic relationship between public opinion and key public policy makers.

The aim of this paper is to explain the policy process of regional social service development strategies in the area of services for drug users. The process is explained on examination of two cases of very diverse regional strategies representing good and bad practice. Social construction of target populations is used as a theoretical framework and the research aims to verify and develop its theoretical assumptions. Subjective perceptions of key actors are deconstructed through public document analysis and in- depth interviews. Service providers are perceived as a trustworthy and competent policy actor and as such they play an important role in the development of medium-term strategy. The prevailing positive construction of drug users by providers and the strong position of service providers contribute to broad distribution of services for drug users in both examined regions. The main difference between the cases is explained by different perception of drug users by the public, different continuity of planning processes, and variance in the dynamic relationship between public opinion and key public policy makers.

Syftet med den här uppsatsen är att undersöka konstruktionen av gängkriminalitet och gängkriminella genom att analysera hur diskursen lyder på det svenska diskussionsforumet Flashback. Den metodologiska ansatsen har därmed varit konstruktivistisk. Studiens syfte är att öka förståelsen för detta sociala problem och bidra med insyn till det sociala arbetets praktik. Genom en tematisk analys av det empiriska materialet som har utgjorts av sex diskussionstrådar från Flashback har vi identifierat tre övergripande teman. Dessa har döpts till: Hur konstrueras orsakerna till gängkriminalitet, Hur konstrueras lösningarna till gängkriminalitet och The Spiral of Silence. Resultaten som varit mest framträdande visar att diskussionerna på Flashback kopplar starkt till främlingsfientlighet och invandringsfrågor. Invandringen diskuteras nästan uteslutande när det pratas om gängkriminalitet, och det finns en tydlig koppling mellan gängkriminalitet, gängkriminella och invandrare i diskussionstrådarna. Studien visar även att rasistiska strukturer spelar en betydande roll i konstruktionen av gängkriminalitet och gängkriminella. Resultaten visar också avhumanisering genom bland annat kränkande språk och föreställningar om “den andre”. Med den sammantagna empirin som grund vill vi i diskussionskapitlet betona att försiktighet bör iakttas när man talar om gängkriminalitet och att det inte kan reduceras till en specifik etnicitet eller ras, utan beror på individuella, sociala och ekonomiska faktorer. Vi diskuterar även vikten av att som blivande socionomer vara medvetna om de maktförhållanden som råder för att inte riskera att vidmakthålla och återskapa förtryck och ojämlikhet. Därtill är det ytterst viktigt att vi som socionomer är vaksamma för att inte förbise underliggande faktorer till gängkriminalitet, något som bättre kan åstadkommas genom ökad kunskap och medvetenhet. / The purpose of this essay is to examine the construction of gang crime and gang criminals by analyzing the discourse on the Swedish discussion forum Flashback. The methodological approach has thus been constructivist. The aim of the study is to increase the understanding of this social problem and contribute with transparency to the practice of social work. Through a thematic analysis of the empirical material consisting of six discussion threads from Flashback, we have identified three overarching themes. These have been named: How to Construct the Causes of Gang Crime, How to Construct the Solutions to Gang Crime and The Spiral of Silence. The results that have been the most prominent show that the discussions on Flashback strongly connect to xenophobia and immigration issues. Immigration is discussed almost exclusively when talking about gang crime, and there is a clear connection between gang crime, gang criminals and immigrants in the discussion threads. The study also shows that racist structures play a significant role in the construction of gang crime and gang criminals. The results also showdehumanization through, among other things, offensive language and ideas about “the other”. With the collected empirical evidence as a basis, we want to emphasize in the discussion chapter that caution should be exercised when talking about gang crime and that it cannot be reduced to a specific ethnicity or race, but depends on individual, social and economic factors. We also discuss the importance for future social workers to be aware of the power relations that prevail in order not to risk perpetuating and recreating oppression and inequality. In addition, it is extremely important that we as social workers are vigilant not to overlook underlying factors to gang crime, something that can be better achieved through increased knowledge and awareness.

I denna studie har begrepp kopplat till psykisk ohälsa studerats utifrån uttryck i svenska underhållningspoddar. Syftet är att studera begreppens förekomst och innebörd samt att problematisera den begreppsliga användningen i vardagliga samtal. Vidare analyseras skillnader i hur kvinnor och män uttrycker sig kring begrepp som är kopplade till psykisk ohälsa. Studien har med inspiration från diskurspsykologiska och begreppsanalytiska metoder behandlat begrepp kopplat till psykisk ohälsa enligt följande teman: stress, ångest och oro, diagnostiska begrepp, övriga psykologiska begrepp, suicid och trauma. Resultatet visar att begreppen nämns i varierande grad i alla analyserade poddar och med förhållande­vis högre förekomst i poddar med endast kvinnor i jämförelse med endast män eller med både män och kvinnor. Vissa begrepp används mer frekvent än andra där exempelvis ångest och oro samt stress och diagnostiska begrepp används i högre grad än begreppen suicid och trauma. Begrepp kopplat till psykisk ohälsa används främst för att förstärka känslor samt beskriva beteenden och händelser snarare än att beskriva faktiska symptom på psykisk ohälsa. Detta gör att begreppen blir förändrade i sin innebörd vilket riskerar att skapa förvrängda sociala föreställningar om psykisk ohälsa. Begrepps­användningen kan därav problematiseras utifrån dess potentiella konsekvenser för individen, samhället och det sociala arbetet, där slutsatsen är att språket är avgörande för att förstå och förmedla psykisk ohälsa. / This study examines how concepts linked to mental illness have been expressed in Swedish entertainment podcasts. The purpose is to study the occurrence and meaning of the concepts and to problematize the conceptual use in everyday conversations. Furthermore, differences are analyzed in how women and men express themselves with concepts linked to mental illness. With inspiration from discourse psychology and concept analytical methods, the study has treated concepts linked to mental illness according to the following themes: stress, anxiety and unease, diagnostic concepts, other psychological concepts, suicide and trauma. The results show that the concepts are expressed to varied degrees in all analyzed podcasts and with a relatively higher occurrence in podcasts with only women compared to only men or with both men and women. Certain concepts are used more frequently than others, for example, anxiety and unease as well as stress and diagnostic concepts are used to a greater extent than the concepts of suicide and trauma. Concepts linked to mental illness are mainly used to amplify feelings and describe behaviors and events rather than describing actual symptoms of mental illness. This causes the concepts to change in their meaning, which risks creating distorting social ideas about mental illness. The use of the concept can therefore be problematized based on its potential consequences for the individual, society and social work, where the conclusion is that language is crucial for understanding and perceiving mental illness.

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The ongoing rise in the number of young, educated individuals emigrating from Turkey, particularly those expressing dissident views, signals a critical reaction to the country's increasing tilt towards authoritarianism. This study delves into this phenomenon, seeking to comprehend the intricate relationship between growing authoritarianism and the escalating emigration trend. By conducting in-depth, episodic interviews with Turkish emigrants, the study unravels the personal narratives that have been shaped by the changing political climate in Turkey. These narratives underscore the critical role that the perception and experience of increasing authoritarianism play in their decision to emigrate. The narratives not only shed light on the individual motives and experiences of emigrants but also offer a window into the broader socio-political transformations unfolding in Turkey.

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