Book Review: Stigma: Social Inclusion of People with Mental Illness

Abstract

Reviews the book, Social inclusion of people with mental illness by Julian Leff & Richard Warner (see record 2006-10902-000). This book is about people, those with mental illness and those without, and how they interact in an ever-changing mental health system where hospitalization is not the first management option for those in need of care. The authors qualifications assure the excellence of the materials found in this book in which the authors express unique concepts on the reasons for stigma and discrimination and for the problems faced by mental patients as they seek reintegration into the community. The book is divided into 2 sections. The first section deals with the origins of stigma and explains the findings of the Team for the Assessment of Psychiatric Services Project in the United Kingdom concerning homelessness, inclusion, and preservation of family and social ties. The second section of the book deals with one of the most difficult problems facing mental patients in the community-joblessness and the concomitant issue of poverty. This is a highly readable book. This book, beautifully published by Cambridge Press in paperback format, is a must read for any psychiatrist or mental health professional working with mental patients in the community. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)