A Straight Talking Introduction to Psychiatric Diagnosis (Straight Talking Introductions To Mental Health Problems) - Softcover

Making sense of personal experiences promotes hope, strength and recovery. This is the message from Lucy Johnstone as an alternative to the biomedical language that keeps mental health care in a stranglehold. She carefully deconstructs psychiatric diagnosis and adds personal stories as evidence. --Dirk Corstens, Chair of Intervoice

Rigorously researched, powerfully argued, and engagingly written, this thoughtful and valuable book empowers readers with something too often missing in statutory services the knowledge and resources to make an informed choice. --Eleanor Longden, Psychosis Research Group, University of Liverpool

A probing, balanced and wonderfully clear introduction to the realities of psychiatric diagnosis and the useful alternatives that now exist to help those in distress. An invaluable resource for patients, families, and professionals and essential reading for every student of mental health. --Gail A. Hornstein, Professor of Psychology, Mount Holyoke College (USA) and author of Agnes's jacket: A psychologist's search for the meanings of madness.

Do you still need your psychiatric diagnosis? This book will help you to decide. A revolution is underway in mental health. If the authors of the diagnostic manuals are admitting that psychiatric diagnoses are not supported by evidence, then no one should be forced to accept them. If many mental health workers are openly questioning diagnosis and saying we need a different and better system, then service users and carers should be allowed to do so too. This book is about choice. It is about giving people the information to make up their own minds, and exploring alternatives for those who wish to do so.