Between the candy store and the mall: The spiritual loss of a father

Abstract This article is an ethnographic narrative detailing the emotional loss experienced when a father becomes mentally ill. Using an introspective method, it is witten to expose the myriad of complex feelings experienced by those who deal with the mental illness of a parent. Written in a creative writing style, the article offers an alternative voice in the examination of pawerful, complicated emotions. Among other things, this article deals with stigma, divorce, and the symbolic (spiritual) loss of a parent. It is hoped that this article provides a new way of studying and understanding the experience of mental illness and its meaning for family members.