Shunned: Discrimination against People with Mental Illness - Softcover

Thornicroft, Graham

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0198570988 ISBN 13: 9780198570981

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2006

Synopsis

People with mental illness commonly describe the stigma and discrimination they face as being worse than their main condition. Discrimination can pervade every part of their daily life - their personal life, working life, sense of citizenship, their ability to maintain even a basic standard of living. Though things have certainly improved in the past 50 years, discrimination against the mentally ill is still a major problem throughout the world. It can manifest itself in subtle ways, such as the terminology used to describe the person or their illness, or in more obvious ways - by the way the mentally ill might be treated and deprived of basic human rights. Should we just accept such discrimination as deeply rooted and resistant to change, or is this something that we can collectively change if we understand and commit ourselves to tackling the problem? Shunned presents clearly for a wide readership information about the nature and severity of discrimination against people with mental illness and what can be done to reduce this. The book features many quotations from people with mental illness showing how this has affected their home, personal, social, and working life. After showing, both from personal accounts and from a thorough review of the literature, the nature of discrimination, the book sets out a clear manifesto for change. Written by a leading figure in mental health in a lively and accessible manner, the book presents a fascinating and humane portrayal of the problem of stigma and discrimination, and shows how we can work to reduce it.

About this title

About the Author:

Graham Thornicroft is Professor of Community Psychiatry, and Head of the multi-disciplinary Health Service Research Department at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London. He is a Consultant Psychiatrist and is Director of Research and Development at the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust. He chaired the External Reference Group for the National Service Framework for Mental Health in England. His areas of research expertise include: stigma and discrimination, mental health needs assessment, the development of outcome scales, cost-effectiveness evaluation of mental health treatments, and service user and consumer participation in mental health research. He is the author of 19 books and over 160 scientific papers.

Review:

"Anyone treating people with psychiatric conditions should read this book to provide a greater understanding of the challenges those with mental illness face day after day."--Doody's

"An important contribution to the literature in an area of concern that is likely to receive increasing attention. If you are interested in discrimination or are building a library on key mental health issues, this book will be a very timely and valuable resource."--Open Mind

"This is an excellent text that should be part of required reading for all social and health care professionals. Shunned is overflowing with research, quotes and other material that make it an invaluable resource to have on the bookshelf."--British Journal of Social Work

"Shunned presents a detailed, well referenced account of the issues associated with discrimination against people with experience of mental illness."--Like Minds

"Shunned provides a comprehensive look at stigma, prejudice, and discrimination against persons with mental illnesses. It is well written and easy to read. The references, including Internet sites, are extensive. The many personal anecdotes add poignant reality to the documented research information. The book should be ready by anyone who is concerned about the status, conditions, and rights of persons with mental illnesses and particularly by policy and decision makers who have the opportunity to make changes in the many negative and discriminatory ways in which mentally ill persons are treated."--Journal of Clinical Psychiatry

"Thornicroft has great skill in addressing the various manifestations of stigma...The reader is left hopeful about the future of stigma."--Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease

"My choice for the best resource on this subject [the issue of stigma and discrimination against people with mental disorders] is Shunned. This superb book is a labour of love arising out of the author's compassion for people with serious mental disorders. The author combines photographs, narratives of experiences of people with mental disorders, and analysis of the causes and strategies to combat stigma and discrimination in a remarkably frank and insightful book. Essential reading for anyone who wonders why the is still such little response to the unacceptably large unmet need for care for people with mental disorders."--Health and Policy Planning

"Anyone treating people with psychiatric conditions should read this book to provide a greater understanding of the challenges those with mental illness face day after day."--Doody's

"Chapters 1 through 6 stand as the best description of stigma and mental illness published to date. They provide a thorough overview of the consequences of stigma and discrimination for self-esteem, friendships, employment, housing, and civil rights, as well as reviewing how these attitudes are reflected by television and movies...a valuable resource for anyone interested in this issue."--Schizophrenia Research

"This is an excellent text that should be part of required reading for all social and health care professionals. Shunned is overflowing with research, quotes and other material that make it an invaluable resource to have on the bookshelf."--British Journal of Social Work

"Shunned presents a detailed, well referenced account of the issues associated with discrimination against people with experience of mental illness."--Like Minds

"Shunned provides a comprehensive look at stigma, prejudice, and discrimination against persons with mental illnesses. It is well written and easy to read. The references, including Internet sites, are extensive. The many personal anecdotes add poignant reality to the documented research information. The book should be ready by anyone who is concerned about the status, conditions, and rights of persons with mental illnesses and particularly by policy and decision makers who have the opportunity to make changes in the many negative and discriminatory ways in which mentally ill persons are treated."--Journal of Clinical Psychiatry

"Thornicroft has great skill in addressing the various manifestations of stigma...The reader is left hopeful about the future of stigma."--Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease

"My choice for the best resource on this subject [the issue of stigma and discrimination against people with mental disorders] is Shunned. This superb book is a labour of love arising out of the author's compassion for people with serious mental disorders. The author combines photographs, narratives of experiences of people with mental disorders, and analysis of the causes and strategies to combat stigma and discrimination in a remarkably frank and insightful book. Essential reading for anyone who wonders why the is still such little response to the unacceptably large unmet need for care for people with mental disorders."--Health and Policy Planning

"...cogent and provocative analysis of the ways in which discrimination, prejudice and stigma affect the lives of people with mental illness. Thornicroft has written one of the most important books on the subject of stigma and discrimination to emerge in the last few years. It is to be recommended to all those involved in mental health care, practitioners, students, advocates and consumers alike, and all who have a social conscience that may be ready to turn to action."--Metapsychology Online

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0198570988
• ISBN 13: 9780198570981
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 322