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Mental America: 72 Hours With An Emergency Room Crisis Counselor
Mental America is a true account of a 3-year experience as an ER Crisis Counselor. The job description was to interview homicidal and suicidal patients in a busy county hospital and make a recommendation to the attending ER doctor - let them go or send them to a lock-down psychiatric hospital! Condensed into a 72-hour Labor Day Weekend, Mental America weaves together the most interesting patients encountered. Meanwhile, back at the condo, Leroy is visiting for the weekend and making a mess of everything!Mental America is a unique point of view - Emergency Room Crisis Counselor.Mental America is relevant to the times - a psychotic meltdown could happen to anyone at any time.Mental America is geographically neutral - it could happen anywhere in America.Mental America is medically accurate and informative, often humorous, and sometimes shocking!Mental America will make you laugh and make you cry.Mental America is tuned to this moment in 2024!
183 pages, Paperback
Published February 29, 2024
12 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 2, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
As a psychology graduate, these types of books always interest me. This is a blunt and honest telling of a 72 hour shift in an ER. ERs definitely aren't the place for the mentally ill because doctors don't always know what to do to help the patient. This was an eyeopener book that shows how the mentally ill don't get the care they need.
I hope he will write more books on his experiences.
As a psychology graduate, these types of books always interest me. This is a blunt and honest telling of a 72 hour shift in an ER. ERs definitely aren't the place for the mentally ill because doctors don't always know what to do to help the patient. This was an eyeopener book that shows how the mentally ill don't get the care they need.
I hope he will write more books on his experiences.
May 5, 2025
I had a hard time rating this. There were some intense and poignant things in this book about mental health, but they were overshadowed by the inappropriate actions and thoughts of the narrator. I was truly appalled so many times.
November 1, 2024
Stewart Swain’s Mental America is a gripping, unfiltered exploration of the mental health crisis gripping America. From the moment I started reading, I was drawn into Swain’s candid narrative, which combines personal anecdotes with hard-hitting observations that are both eye-opening and heartbreaking.
Swain writes with an authenticity that makes you feel as if you’re sitting across from him, whilst he shares his life experiences. He doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities faced by individuals struggling with mental health issues, detailing the systemic failures and societal stigmas that exacerbate their suffering. His no-holds-barred approach brings a much-needed clarity to a topic often shrouded in misunderstanding and denial.
The book is not just a recounting of struggles; it’s a call to action. Swain’s insights into the personal and societal dimensions of mental health are both compelling and urgent. He challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths and consider how we can collectively improve the landscape of mental health care in America.
Reading Mental America in one sitting was both a rewarding and emotional experience. Swain's passion for advocating change resonates deeply, making this book a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of mental health today. It's a powerful reminder of the human stories behind statistics, urging us to empathize and take action.
If you're looking for a book that confronts the status quo and inspires hope for change, Mental America is a poignant and necessary read.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and BuzzBook for the copy
Swain writes with an authenticity that makes you feel as if you’re sitting across from him, whilst he shares his life experiences. He doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities faced by individuals struggling with mental health issues, detailing the systemic failures and societal stigmas that exacerbate their suffering. His no-holds-barred approach brings a much-needed clarity to a topic often shrouded in misunderstanding and denial.
The book is not just a recounting of struggles; it’s a call to action. Swain’s insights into the personal and societal dimensions of mental health are both compelling and urgent. He challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths and consider how we can collectively improve the landscape of mental health care in America.
Reading Mental America in one sitting was both a rewarding and emotional experience. Swain's passion for advocating change resonates deeply, making this book a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of mental health today. It's a powerful reminder of the human stories behind statistics, urging us to empathize and take action.
If you're looking for a book that confronts the status quo and inspires hope for change, Mental America is a poignant and necessary read.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and BuzzBook for the copy
November 11, 2024
This author is ABHORRENT. I am actually stunned how a person in his profession could be so horrific. This subject is fascinating. But it was done no justice by this author. This is not a good person..................... at all.
Author: Do you know why you're in the ER, Ronald?
Patient: I tried to kill myself (jump off bridge)
Author: Right. And we don't want you to do that. (To himself: I'm not sure it would matter. A lot of people won't be missed if they jumped off a bridge - more fish food.)
- says multiple times he wants to punch patients in the head, stab them with pens, cut their jugular
- is 100% obsessed with alcohol, getting his next drink, getting home to his alcohol, endless references to his fridge full of alcohol, how his alcohol is the only thing in the fridge, how much of his alcohol his friend drank, how much alcohol is left, how fast he can get out of work to his alcohol, drawing pictures of beer while a patient talks (!!!! ???)
- treats his patients ice cold - as an annoyance, burden, idiots, something to get through - NOT with any empathy or at the bare minimum warmth, as someone in his job should
- references how irreplaceable, esteemed, revered, exceptional, rare he is
- allows patients to call him Dr., though he is NOT a doctor
The attitude displayed by this man toward human beings is horrific and a shame.
Author: Do you know why you're in the ER, Ronald?
Patient: I tried to kill myself (jump off bridge)
Author: Right. And we don't want you to do that. (To himself: I'm not sure it would matter. A lot of people won't be missed if they jumped off a bridge - more fish food.)
- says multiple times he wants to punch patients in the head, stab them with pens, cut their jugular
- is 100% obsessed with alcohol, getting his next drink, getting home to his alcohol, endless references to his fridge full of alcohol, how his alcohol is the only thing in the fridge, how much of his alcohol his friend drank, how much alcohol is left, how fast he can get out of work to his alcohol, drawing pictures of beer while a patient talks (!!!! ???)
- treats his patients ice cold - as an annoyance, burden, idiots, something to get through - NOT with any empathy or at the bare minimum warmth, as someone in his job should
- references how irreplaceable, esteemed, revered, exceptional, rare he is
- allows patients to call him Dr., though he is NOT a doctor
The attitude displayed by this man toward human beings is horrific and a shame.
May 23, 2025
Thoughts:
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a hell of a powerful read, providing us with a brutal look into the mental health of America over a holiday weekend (labour day). Swain is somewhat blunt, especially on the tough decisions he had to make that weekend but it provides a real insight into the crisis mindsets of that extremely long shift. Swain himself started to seem a little burnt out as the shift wore on such as losing compassion to addicts and the impulsive thoughts of violence from his OCD, but for 72 hours on shift or on call, most of it while ill I’m sure most people would be the same. I did notice that there was a lot of his non-working focus on alcohol but since it is a holiday weekend most people’s minds would likely be on when they can get a drink. Also the statistics on emergency and crisis workers mental health and coping mechanisms makes it understandable.
Favourite Quote:
“Emergency rooms weren't designed for a daily tsunami of mental illness.”
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a hell of a powerful read, providing us with a brutal look into the mental health of America over a holiday weekend (labour day). Swain is somewhat blunt, especially on the tough decisions he had to make that weekend but it provides a real insight into the crisis mindsets of that extremely long shift. Swain himself started to seem a little burnt out as the shift wore on such as losing compassion to addicts and the impulsive thoughts of violence from his OCD, but for 72 hours on shift or on call, most of it while ill I’m sure most people would be the same. I did notice that there was a lot of his non-working focus on alcohol but since it is a holiday weekend most people’s minds would likely be on when they can get a drink. Also the statistics on emergency and crisis workers mental health and coping mechanisms makes it understandable.
Favourite Quote:
“Emergency rooms weren't designed for a daily tsunami of mental illness.”
November 6, 2024
Mental America offers a gripping and honest glimpse into the intense world of an ER Crisis Counselor over a pivotal 72-hour Labor Day Weekend. Stewart Swain intertwines the harrowing experiences with homicidal and suicidal patients with the chaotic visit from Leroy, creating a compelling narrative that highlights the emotional and psychological challenges of the job. I really appreciated how the book sheds light on the importance of mental health and the tough decisions counselors must make, making it both eye-opening and deeply moving. It's a powerful memoir that resonates long after you finish reading.
November 5, 2024
🚨 Buckle up for a wild ride! Mental America dives straight into the chaos of the ER with heart-pounding stories and unforgettable characters. I couldn’t put it down as I navigated the highs and lows of crisis counseling alongside Leroy’s hilarious antics. If you’re into real-life drama and want to understand the real struggles behind mental health, this memoir is a must-read. Trust me, you’ll be hooked from page one! 🏥✨
July 29, 2025
I was very interested in seeing this side of healthcare in an emergent setting. I felt that the writing definitely showed the psychological and emotional side of this type of profession, however there were times I really felt that the mental state of the writer was a bit iffy. I think that this is probably the norm of the people that thrive in these types of professions. I would think that dark humor would be a must. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley. This was eye-opening.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews