Outside Mental Health: Voices and Visions of Madness

by Will Hall

Outside Mental Health: Voices and Visions of Madness reveals the human side of mental illness. In this remarkable collection of interviews and essays, therapist, Madness Radio host, and schizophrenia survivor Will Hall asks, "What does it mean to be called crazy in a crazy world?" More than 60 voices of psychiatric patients, scientists, journalists, doctors, activists, and artists create a vital new conversation about empowering the human spirit by transforming society. "Bold, fearless, and compellingly readable... a refuge and an oasis from the overblown claims of American psychiatry" - Christopher Lane, author of Shyness: How Normal Behavior Became an Illness "A terrific conversation partner." - Joshua Wolf Shenk, author of Lincoln's Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness "Brilliant...wonderfully grand and big-hearted." - Robert Whitaker, author of Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America "Must-read for anyone interested in creating a more just and compassionate world." - Alison Hillman, Open Society Foundation Human Rights Initiative "An intelligent, thought-provoking, and rare concept. These are voices worth listening to." - Mary O'Hara, The Guardian "A new, helpful, liberating-and dare I say, sane-way of re-envisioning our ideas of mental illness." Paul Levy, Director of the Padmasambhava Buddhist Center, Portland, Oregon "A fantastic resource for those who are seeking change." Dr. Pat Bracken MD, psychiatrist and Clinical Director of Mental Health Service, West Cork, Ireland

Genres: Mental Health, Nonfiction, Psychology, Mental Illness, Disability, Essays

402 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2016

Reviews

[Hannah Ritvo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book opened my heart and my brain and I am a better man for it. It took me some time to get through, because I just had to stop, sit, and ponder deeply - every interview is insanely eye-opening and captivating - and fucking triggering! Screw the for-profit mental health industry and capitalism and the racist sexist DSM we so heavily rely on and we just need to burn it all down to the ground.. but anyways this book is insanely interesting and insightful and infuriating and important and I just hope that everyone reads this someday. It’s the most empowering and meaningful collection of stories I’ve ever had the privilege of reading. This is one of those books you find when you need it most, and I feel lucky to have stumbled upon it (it was literally delivered via mail by my very kind and very mad brother at the exact moment I needed it most). Thank you Will Hall, and thank you to every inspiring interviewee for sharing your journey with madness. I finished the last page and immediately started over.

Stay Mad!

[Johnathan Kochis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally life-changing, no cliche

This is my first book review, but I just wanted to say it's one of the most important books I've ever read. If anyone has experienced an extreme state, they'll get something of value from this book. And that's an understatement.

[Lacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each story is a unique portrait of an individual experience. Well balanced stories and essays.

[Jade.Kin13outlook.Com · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading parts of this book. Some of the essays and interviews were incredibly eye-opening, especially those that discussed mental health and race. I'm an advocate for the hearing vocies movement in the UK and I'm a firm believer that many mental health problems could be helped by social interventions and therapy wherever possible. However, this book was too psychiatry-bashing for my liking. Most of the examples refered to incidents that happened decades ago, and doesn't reflect psychiatry today in my opinion. The author also claimed to not be anti-medication and that it is people's right to choose, but (as someone who takes anti-depressants) after reading this book I felt like I was shamed for taking them, even though they help me personally. Also, even though this book is a series of personal essays and interviews, some of the facts were plain wrong (such as the proportion of people using anti-depressants who 'convert' to bipolar disorder was vastly overstated).

[Big Cheddar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will Hall is a hero. His long-running radio program Madness radio is one of my favorite podcasts. But the book is of course NOT just about himself; he’s humble and community-oriented. The introduction to the book will always stay with me; he’s an exceptional writer and an even more exceptional person.

[Marcela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad I reread this--a wide range of voices, some of which really resonated. Important to amplify people who aren't being served by our current mental health system.