This is an exciting collection of writings by people who have experienced mental distress. It includes accounts of psychiatric treatment, psychotherapy and alternative treatments; life in mental institutions and moves into the community; self-help methods and work to improve mental health services. Moving, sometimes funny and often dramatic, the pieces are written by some of the key activists in the mental health survivors' movement, as well as by people best known as writers and poets and others who, for a period of time, have been caught up with mental distress and have something original to say.
Speaking Our Minds : An Anthology of Personal Experiences of Mental Distress and its Consequences
Description
Table of Contents
Introduction.- PART ONE: EMOTIONAL DISTRESS AND ITS CAUSES.- Introduction.- Agoraphobia: Letting Go; P. Mason.- Afraid to Live and Afraid to Die; R.B. A Survival Story; P. Bremner.- Silent Scream; M. Ross.- Finger Pickin' Good; L. Thorn Thro' a Glass Darkly; 'a Psychiatric Nurse' I've Lost My Innocence; Nicki The Pressure of Being a Human Chameleon; V. el Khalifa.- Unplanned Journey; D. Friel McGowin.- PART TWO: PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT.- Introduction.- Two Accounts of Mental Distress; M. O'Hagan Mania; B.- Howard Schizophrenia From the Inside; R. Jameson Challenging Loss of Power; P. Campbell ECT is Barbaric; L. Taylor.- Choosing ECT; R. Perkins The Right to be Informed; C.McIntosh.- Prozac Really isn't That Great; E. Wurtzel.- PART THREE: LIFE AS AN IN-PATIENT.- Introduction.- Thunk Among the Jolly Bunks; L. Irvine Ward; M. O'Higgins.- Why We Run for Cover; Anon. By Definition; W. Lindsay.- Therapy Room; W. Lewis.- Stay Calm and Charm Them; L. Hart I Wanted to Scream and Shout; J. Laing.- An Utter Disaster; K.H. Label Removed but Scar Remains; J. Bell.- PART FOUR: MOVING INTO THE COMMUNITY.- Introduction.- Jane Writing from the Pastures: Paying the Penalty, I Can Get About, There's Nothing You Can Do; Anon. Don't Go Back; W. Lindsay.- The Sanctuary in North London; M. Henderson A Second Chance for Life; J. Tugwell.- Clive Alienation; J. Meredith Nutter to Normal; J. Read A Comparative Study of Application Forms for Housing Benefit and an American Express Card; P. Good.- PART FIVE: THERAPY AND SELF HELP.- Introduction.- Time, Faith and Encouragement; R. Caplin.- Healing Through Creativity; C. Hambrook Obsessed; M. Sangster Neurotics at War; D. Wigoder.- One-To-One; Margery Reflections on Therapy; B. Taylor Eleventh Contributor; L. Pembroke.- PART SIX: WORKING FOR CHANGE.- Introduction.- What We Want From Mental Health Services; J. Read What Users Want From Mental Health Crisis Services; P. Campbell Now is Your Chance to Help Undo Some Wrongs; V. Lindow Becoming Fully Ourselves; J. Wallcraft.- We Can Still Find a Way to be Heard; S. King Listening in the Asylum; M. Nettle Who Do You Represent?.- Shaking Hands with the Devil; Beeforth Having Space to Talk and Think; T. Simpson.- What Has Disability got to do with Psychiatric Survivors?; P. Beresford, G. Gifford and C. Harrison.
Author Description
JIM READ has been working as an independent Mental Health Consultant for over 25 years. Jill Reynolds is Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Health and Social Care at The Open University, UK.