Sir Norman Lamb is the Chair of the Maudsley Hospital and is an active campaigner on mental health. He was the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament (MP) for North Norfolk from 2001 to 2019 and was Minister of State for Care and Support at the Department of Health from 2012 to 2015. He was the Chair of South London and Maudsley Foundation Trust, a specialist Mental Health Trust, from 2019 until 2025. In 2019, Norman received a knighthood for his services to mental health.
Description
Professor Tim Kendall CBE
This book is about how people experience the fragmented, inhuman, and so often harmful mental health services in the UK. True and painful stories of real people will utterly convince you that we cannot go on doing this. And alternatives do exist! This highly recommended book will show you some of the foundations we need to restore the humanity, compassion and the common care all too often absentfrom mental health services today. A must-read for anyone anywhere near mental health services!
Clarke Carlisle, Chair of Mind and former Premier League footballer
Exceptional...compelling and compassionate. As a father to a profoundly autistic daughter and a 64 black man with experiences in mental health institutions, some sections were tough to read. But the book is full of hope and possibility for different, more human solutions.
Mark Austin, Chief Presenter at Sky News
Norman Lamb asks all the right questions about mental health provision in this country because he has lived the problems that exist.
Dr Sian Williams, Chartered Counselling Psychologist, Broadcaster and Author of The Power of Anxiety
Compelling and compassionate, holistic and humane, Sir Norman Lambs book is an informed and impassioned call for change in how we treat mental health.
Trisha Goddard, mental health campaigner and broadcast journalist
Having been a passionate mental health campaigner for nearly 40 years, I feel this book adds a much-needed, respected voice. For too long, we have relegated the importance of mental health and resilience in childhood to the realms of schools and charities. As Norman so rightly attests, instead of just stigmatizing and medicalizing, we need to start creating innovative ways to build resilience and prevent mental ill health in the young. Normans book is a must read.
Saba Salman, journalist and author of Double Discrimination
A timely, persuasive analysis with powerful real-life stories at its heart. Lamb outlines the enduring injustices caused by our ailing mental health system before arguing for a better way through sharing the alternative - more human - approaches and the pioneering community-based projects and people working to transform lives for the better.
Alastair Campbell, broadcaster, journalist and mental health activist
Norman Lamb is always worth listening to on mental health. Be More Human confronts the failures of an outdated system and highlights brilliant humane approaches, demonstrating that change is possible. A vital and timely contribution to a debate in need of fresh ideas and energy.
Ruby Wax OBE, performer, writer and mental health campaigner
This book is a call to arms for those urgently needing help. Mental illness is still the killer of them all and yet its ignored. Norman continues to fight the good fight.