Madness Contested: Power and Practice - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1906254435 ISBN 13: 9781906254438

Publisher: PCCS Books, 2013

Synopsis

A critical review of how the mentally ill are treated both by the Mental Health Services and society, followed by alternatives to the current treatment of mental health based on views from nurses, service users, psychiatrists, psychologists, practitioners, and academics. This should be read by all those with an interest in mental health care.

About this title

About the Author

Steven Coles is a Clinical Psychologist in adult mental health services in Nottingham. He is questioning of how power is used and misused within mental health services and society. The stories recounted to him of fear, misery and madness has helped him to understand the social and material nature of these experiences; as well as how current cultural values and morality shape the responses of society and mental health services. Steven attempts to bring issues of power, the social - material world and ethics to the forefront of his role, including publications, debates, conferences, as well as sharing and reflecting on ideas with staff, people within services and those outside the organisation. Sarah Keenan is a clinical psychologist working in Nottingham city community mental health services with people who experience enduring mental health difficulties. Sarah's previous publications and clinical interests focus on how social context influences distress, and how and why these influences and expressions of distress are often medicalised or minimised within mental health services. Sarah has also taken an active role in helping to bring people together who have experiences of mental health services to share knowledge and support each other through informal meetings, formal debates on key issues and the successful Psychosis in Context conference series. Bob Diamond is a Clinical Psychologist and Mental Health Advisor currently working in Higher Education. He is interested in enduring mental health difficulties and drawing on the ideas and practice from critical and community psychology. When previously working in adult mental health services, he sought to establish a psychological presence whilst questioning the oppressive dominance of psychiatry. He advocates more personally meaningful supportive services that acknowledge and where possible address historical, material and social injustices. He is a member of the Midlands Psychology Group.

Review

This impressive volume not only comprehensively critiques the simplistic, pessimistic medical model that dominates the mental health world, but provides an array of exciting exceptions and alternatives. A must read for all interested in creating more effective, humane, evidence-based approaches to madness. Professor John Read, University of Auckland Madness Contested is a thought-provoking, informed manifesto for rethinking what we call madness and how best to treat such psychiatric distress. As the writers of this book convincingly argue, science, philosophy, and the lived experience of those who have known such states all tell of how our current "medical model" of madness fails us, and of the benefit that could come from a reconceptualization of what it means to be "mad." Robert Whitaker, Journalist and author of Mad in America and Anatomy of an Epidemic This inspiring collection of essays is a welcome addition to the growing literature on critical and alternative approaches to psychiatry. The authors, some well-known and some speaking out for the first time, cover topics ranging from the experience of taking neuroleptics to new ways of understanding paranoia - The book is particularly strong on service user perspectives and projects. In fact, there is something for everyone here - it is unfailingly lively, challenging and thought-provoking. Lucy Johnstone, Clinical Psychologist and author of Users and Abusers of Psychiatry.

Edition details

• Publisher: PCCS Books
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1906254435
• ISBN 13: 9781906254438
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 392
• Editor: Coles Steven, Keenan Sarah, Diamond Bob