This book is a collection of writings on how society has stigmatized mentally ill persons, their families, and their caregivers. First-hand accounts poignantly portray what it is like to be the victim of stigma and mental illness. Stigma and Mental Illness also presents historical, societal, and institutional viewpoints that underscore the devastating effects of stigma.

This volume aims to provide the reader with a contemporary account of his torical, diagnostic, treatment-management (including the individual and the service systems perspectives), and training dimensions of mentally ill/mentally retarded individuals from interdisciplinary perspectives. Emphasis is placed on current and evolving aspects of this topic. The broad scope of our approach is consistent with the concepts and practices that currently typify this topical area of clinical and research activity. This volume is divided into five sections. Part I deals with the definitional aspects: the nature and incidence, the historical aspects, and a view of assessing the types of needs of mentally ill/mentally retarded individuals. Part II ad dresses the key issues in treatment intervention: from an individual therapeutic aspect through vocational considerations, as well as the role of the parents in these helping processes. Part III focuses on systems of service delivery, ranging from inpatient and day treatment models to the delivery of services in the home; at all times, the emphasis is on programs that have been successful. Part IV presents a modern perspective on the multiple challenges in training both men tal health and mental retardation specialists, as well as the critical dimension of providing a well-trained cadre of paraprofessionals in both fields. And finally, Part V encompasses key current research perspectives as well as possible future directions for this rapidly growing area of professional interest and involve ment.

It is only in the past 20 years that the concept of 'recovery' from mental health has been more widely considered and researched. Before then, it was generally considered that 'stability' was the best that anyone suffering from a mental disorder could hope for. But now it is recognised that, throughout their mental illness, many patients develop new beliefs, feelings, values, attitudes, and ways of dealing with their disorder. The notion of recovery from mental illness is thus rapidly being accepted and is inserting more hope into mainstream psychiatry and other parts of the mental health care system around the world. Yet, in spite of conceptual and other challenges that this notion raises, including a variety of interpretations, there is scarcely any systematic philosophical discussion of it. This book is unique in addressing philosophical issues - including conceptual challenges and opportunities - raised by the notion of recovery of people with mental illness. Such recovery - particularly in relation to serious mental illness such as schizophrenia - is often not about cure and can mean different things to different people. For example, it can mean symptom alleviation, ability to work, or the striving toward mental well-being (with or without symptoms). The book addresses these different meanings and their philosophical grounds, bringing to the fore perspectives of people with mental illness and their families as well as perspectives of philosophers, mental health care providers and researchers, among others. The important new work will contribute to further research, reflective practice and policy making in relation to the recovery of people with mental illness.It is essential reading for philosophers of health, psychiatrists, and other mental care providers, as well as policy makers.

Research shows that many adults with serious mental illness live with or maintain contact with their families. But families are rarely given information about their relative's illness and their own needs for support are ignored. To be optimally beneficial, family members and other caregivers need education about the disorder, some knowledge of illness management techniques, and personal support. Family psychoeducation (FPE) is a powerful evidence-based psychosocial intervention that serves consumers and their families. FPE has proven efficacious in reducing relapse and hospitalization, reducing symptoms, increasing employability of persons with severe and persistent mental illness, and, in many cases, enhancing their families' well-being. Its success rests with a state-of-the-art education model for improving caregivers' understanding of their loved one's illness through learning what is known and not known about it and how to assess and cope with its manifestations. Here, in the first book of its kind, Harriet P. Lefley traces the history of FPE -- including the developments in mental health services and systems and theoretical approaches that inform it -- and the robust empirical evidence it now claims after a quarter-century of development and evaluation at major research centers around the world. Presenting first the approach's generic components, training models, and required competencies, Lefley then discusses the available variations, such as Family Education (FE), a brief manualized form of FPE offered by professionally trained family members that has some empirical support for knowledge gains and easing family distress. The result is a comprehensive, practical introduction to family psychoeducation that critically appraises the evidence and examines the model's place in contemporary mental health systems. This groundbreaking volume is an ideal training tool for graduate students of social work, psychology, and psychiatry and a valuable addition to the clinician's armamentarium of evidence-based practices for clients with serious mental illness.

`This is a unique book that addresses an interesting aspect of work in mental health settings.' - Mental Health OT Communication and Mental Illness is a comprehensive and practical textbook written by a multidisciplinary group of experts in the field of mental health which will be of interest to all those interested in improving their understanding of individuals with mental illness. The book is divided into three parts. The first of these offers both student and experienced clinicians in the mental health field an improved theoretical knowledge of the methods of communication commonly adopted by individuals with a variety of diagnoses of mental illness. It also provides practical suggestions of how this information can improve the individual professional's management of patients. Part Two looks at how information about communication in mental illness can influence service provision, ending with suggestions for future policy and practice. Communication and Mental Illness concludes with a final part describing the state of current research into different facets of communication and mental illness, offering an insight into the variety of research methodology and points of interest to those involved in the field.

Housing, Citizenship, and Communities for People with Serious Mental Illness provides the first comprehensive overview of the field. The book covers theory, research, practice, and policy issues related to the provision of housing and the supports that people rely on to get and keep their housing.

A concise, practical guide to the mental health effects of COVID-19 and its treatments Managing Mental Illness After COVID-19 Infection is a resource for people affected by COVID-19 and their loved ones. As the long-term effects, especially the psychiatric effects, evolve and become more common, people are increasingly searching for answers. This book reviews presentations and treatments for mental illnesses post-COVID-19. Readers will learn about the use of medications, supplements, and behavioral interventions to address these conditions. This engaging and practical book includes numerous tables and other illustrations for easy reference. It provides enough medical detail for patients and their caregivers to better understand the symptoms they may experience, as well as the best ways to investigate and treat those symptoms. However, it is not too complex for the general reader, making it perfect as a standalone book for patients and their families. Learn how and why many people struggle with mental illness following COVID-19 infection Discover what your symptoms may indicate and get advice on how to pursue diagnosis and treatment Find a doctor who can understand and manage the mental and behavioral consequences of COVID-19 Get up to speed on the psychiatric and psychosocial effects of COVID-19 infection This is an excellent resource for the public, policymakers, clinicians, counselors, social workers, and behavioral health coaches that could benefit from the latest research on the psychiatric effects of COVID-19.

The Four Domains of Mental Illness presents an authentic and valid alternative to the DSM-5, which author René J. Muller argues has resulted in many patients being incorrectly diagnosed and wrongly medicated. Dr. Muller points out where the DSM-5 is mistaken and offers a guide to diagnosis based on the psychobiology of psychiatrist Adolf Meyer and the insights of existential philosophy and psychiatry. His model identifies the phenomena of the mental illnesses that clinicians most often see, which are characterized by identifying their structure, or partial structure. Using the FDMI approach, clinicians can grasp how each mental illness is an aberration of Martin Heidegger’s being-in-the-world.

How can sociology explain the emergence of mental disorders in societies or individuals? This authoritative book makes a case for the renewal of the sociology of mental illness, proposing a reorganisation of this field around four areas: social stratification, stress, labelling and culture. Drawing on case studies from a range of global contexts, the book argues that current research focuses on identifying ‘social factors’, leaving the question of causality to psychiatry, while significant critical perspectives remain untapped. The result is an unprecedented resource that maps the current state of sociology of mental health, providing an invigorating manifesto for its future.