Mental Health in Crisis

Dr Joel Vos, PhD, Cpsychol trained as a Clinical and Health Psychologist and Philosopher, and works as researcher, lecturer and therapist in Counselling Psychology. Dr. Ron Roberts is a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. He has worked at King's College, University College London, St Bartholomew's Medical College, The Tavistock Institute, Queen Mary University of London, The University of Westminster, the Institute of Psychiatry and Kingston University. He is the author of over 60 research publications and nine other books. www.ronroberts.co.uk James Davies graduated from the University of Oxford in 2006, with a DPhil in social and medical anthropology. He is a reader in social anthropology and mental health at the University of Roehampton and a qualified psychotherapist. His books include The Making of Psychotherapists: An Anthropological Analysis and Cracked: Why Psychiatry Is Doing More Harm Than Good. He edited Emotions in the Field: The Psychology and Anthropology of Fieldwork Experience and The Sedated Society: The Causes and Harms of Our Psychiatric Drug Epidemic. He cofounded the Council for Evidence-based Psychiatry, which is now secretariat to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Prescribed Drug Dependence.

Introduction Chapter 1: Community Crisis Chapter 2: Austerity Crisis Chapter 3: The Financial Crisis in Mental Health Care Chapter 4: Biomedical and Drug Crisis Chapter 5: Diagnostic Crisis Chapter 6: Mental Health in Crisis Chapter 7: Existential Crisis Chapter 8 Crisis in Academia Chapter 9: The Organisational Crisis in Mental Health Chapter 10: Educational Crisis Chapter 11: Visions for Mental Health Care

With considerable erudition and passion, this book explores the roots of the rising tide of mental health problems in the UK, citing the impact of government policies, the marketization of healthcare and the failure of the psychiatric diagnostic system. This is essential reading for all mental health practitioners and educators. -- Rosemary Rizq Mental Health in Crisis is an outstanding polemic against neo-liberalism and its impact on mental health care. Vos, Roberts and Davies offer a lucid and compelling analysis of how emotional wellbeing is conceptualised, medicalised and compromised in the United Kingdom. The book is essential reading for mental health practitioners and an ideal companion to students studying counselling, social work and related disciplines. -- John Marsden This book is an important and timely contribution to the field. The authors present clear, engaging and well-evidenced arguments, which demonstrate the various crises in mental health and our society. In contrast to many other texts, the book also ends with insightful and thought-provoking suggestions on how we might do things differently. This is a must-read for anyone involved or interested in mental health and wellbeing. -- Dr Laura Winter