Description
Book SynopsisVoices of Experience contains a wide range of stories written by mental health survivors. The narratives illustrate how survivors have developed self-management techniques and strategies for living which, together, offer a guide to anybody struggling with 21 st century life.
Trade Review"The book has much to offer therapists who counsel those recovering and their carers, although its primary
target is other mental health professionals and researchers." (Therapy Today, 1 September 2011)
"They would also read of the value of the support provided by others who demonstrate empathy and compassion. I highly recommend this book and am happy to say a copy is now available in UWE's Glenside library." (University of the West of England, 1 September 2011)
"Appealing to both practitioners and patients, the book features stories and poems on surviving/recovering from mental illness, coping strategies, and recovery/discovery (the latter term preferred by some)." (Booknews, 1 February 2011)
"One of the unique strengths of the book is that it straddles the usual divide between "professional" and "survivor" literature. Whilst the contributors are all service users or survivors, many are also workers or academics, and the thoughtful introduction relates the contributors' ideas to current debates... I would recommend this book to all service users, survivors, mental health workers and students." (Open Mind, July/August 2011)
"First-person narrative accounts of illness form a substantial proportion of the literature... (these) narratives form an interesting and well-edited collection." (Journal of Mental Health, December 2011)
Table of ContentsAbout the Editors vii
Contributors viii
1. Introduction 1
Thurstine Basset and Theo Stickley
Poem: Recovery – Libby Jackson 12
2. The Antidote to Madness: Crystallising out the Real Self 13
Peter Chadwick
Poem: But What is the Cause? – Libby Jackson 20
3. Surviving the System 21
Peter Campbell
Poem: They Come and Go – Dave St. Clair 31
Poem: Fixing Dinner – Dave St. Clair 32
4. Measuring the Marigolds 33
Alison Faulkner
Poem: The Tears I Cry – Mariyam Maule 45
5. Coping Strategies and Fighting Stigma 46
Joy Pope
Poem: Day by Day – Libby Jackson 57
6. Living with the Dragon: The Long Road to Self-Management of Bipolar II 58
Peter Amsel
Poem: In Exile – Mariyam Maule 75
7. Coping Strategies 76
Ruth Dee
Poem: Puppeteer – Esta Smith 84
8. What’s it Like Having a Nervous Breakdown? Can You Recover? 85
Laura Lea
Poem: A Journey beyond Silence – Mariyam Maule 94
9. The Bridge of Sighs and the Bridge of Love: a Personal Pilgrimage 95
Peter Gilbert
Poem: Have You Ever Felt Lonely? – Dave St. Clair, 114
Poem: He Saved My Bacon – Dave St. Clair 115
10. The Holy Spirit – Healer, Advocate, Guide and Friend 116
Richard Lilly
Poem: Mist of Tears – Brice Jones 120
11. CAPITAL Writings 121
Thomas France, Timothy Bird, Richard Love, Kay Phillpot, Howard Pearce, Clare Ockwell and Jude Smith
Poem: Nicely Nicely Nought – Martin Snape 141
Poem: Feel Easy-Fit – Martin Snape 141
12. The Value of Self-Help/Peer Support 142
Caroline Bell, Sarah Collis and Joan Cook
Poem: The Clear Sky – Dave St. Clair 151
13. A Recovery Approach in Mental Health Services: Transformation, Tokenism or Tyranny? 152
Premila Trivedi
Poem: To What Could Have Been – Mariyam Maule 164
14. Stand to Reason 165
Jonathan Naess
Poem: I Am – Libby Jackson 173
15. Walking with Dinosaurs 174
John Stuart Clark
Poem: Negatives and Positives – Libby Jackson 182
16. Conclusions, Discussion and Ways Ahead 183
Thurstine Basset, Joan Cook and Theo Stickley
Poem: The Heart of Humankind – Mariyam Maule 192
Index 193
