Narratives of Mental Health: New Perspectives on Illness and Recovery

Following extensive research in the UK, Bruce Cohen allows mental health users to tell their own stories (or 'narratives') of illness and recovery. Institutional and home treatment care is covered alongside controversial self-coping techniques such as drug-taking, spiritualism, alternative healing, sleep and watching television. Drawing on extensive research in the UK, Mental Health User Narratives focuses on the listening to and understanding of the mental health user within the psychiatric system. It differs from other texts in the field by arguing for the avoidance of immediate interpretation. Instead, the user 'narratives' (or stories) are taken at face value, building a more rounded picture of the lives of users, and producing new perspectives on mental health and illness. Insights are gained into such areas as spiritualism, self-coping, self-recovery, alternative treatments, positive affects of illness and future life paths. Further, comparison of institutional and home treatment psychiatric narratives illustrates the fluidity of illness-identity depending on the psychiatric intervention experienced. The research in this book will demonstrate a need to widen the therapeutic mind to include the mundane and everyday as an additional focus for treatment and recovery. It is the first volume allowing mental health users to speak to the professional community which offers to treat them and as such will be an important resource for professionals, students and practitioners in the mental health field Drawing On Extensive Research In The Uk, Mental Health User Narratives Focuses On The Listening To And Understanding Of The Mental Health User Within The Psychiatric System. It Differs From Other Texts In The Field By Arguing For The Avoidance Of Immediate Interpretation. Instead, The User 'narratives' (or Stories) Are Taken At Face Value, Building A More Rounded Picture Of The Lives Of Users, And Producing New Perspectives On Mental Health And Illness. Insights Are Gained Into Such Areas As Spiritualism, Self-coping, Self-recovery, Alternative Treatments, Positive Affects Of Illness And Future Life Paths. Further, Comparison Of Institutional And Home Treatment Psychiatric Narratives Illustrates The Fluidity Of Illness-identity Depending On The Psychiatric Intervention Experienced. The Research In This Book Will Demonstrate A Need To Widen The Therapeutic Mind To Include The Mundane And Everyday As An Additional Focus For Treatment And Recovery. It Is The First Volume Allowing Mental Health Users To Speak To The Professional Community Which Offers To Treat Them And As Such Will Be An Important Resource For Professionals, Students And Practitioners In The Mental Health Field. Mental Illness And Psychiatry -- Narratives -- Crisis Intervention And Home Treatment -- Methods -- The User Narratives -- Descent Into Illness And Psychiatric Intervention -- Recovery From Illness And Self-coping -- Conclusion. Bruce M.z. Cohen. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 189-201) And Index. "Drawing on extensive research in the United Kingdom, Mental Health User Narratives focuses on the listening to and understanding of the mental health user within the psychiatric system. It differs from other texts in the field by arguing for the avoidance of immediate interpretation. Instead, the user 'narratives' (or stories) are taken at face value, building a more rounded picture of the lives of users, and producing new perspectives on mental health and illness. Insights are gained into areas such as spiritualism, self-coping, self-recovery, alternative treatments, positive affects of illness and future life paths. Further, comparison of institutional and home treatment psychiatric narratives illustrates the fluidity of illness identity depending on the psychiatric intervention experienced. The research in this book will demonstrate a need to widen the therapeutic mind to include the mundane and everyday as an additional focus for treatment and recovery. It is the first volume allowing mental health users to speak to the professional community which offers to treat them and as such will be an important resource for professionals, students and practitioners in the mental health field."--BOOK JACKET Drawing on extensive research in the UK, Mental Health User Narratives focuses on the listening to and understanding of the mental health user within the psychiatric system. It differs from other texts in the field by arguing for the avoidance of immediate interpretation. Instead, the user 'narratives' (or stories) are taken at face value, building a more rounded picture of the lives of users, and producing new perspectives on mental health and illness. Insights are gained into such areas as spiritualism, self-coping, self-recovery, alternative treatments, positive affects of illness and future life paths. Further, comparison of institutional and home treatment psychiatric narratives illustrates the fluidity of illness-identity depending on the psychiatric intervention experienced. The research in this book will demonstrate a need to widen the therapeutic mind to include the mundane and everyday as an additional focus for treatment and recovery. It is the first volume allowing mental health users to speak to the professional community which offers to treat them and as such will be an important resource for professionals, students and practitioners in the mental health field.--Résumé de l'éditeur