Book Review - Alternatives Beyond Psychiatry

I am finally getting round to writing a short review of this excellent book that was sent to me last year by a German based publisher called Peter Lehmann. Peter is a ex-service user and activist who has taken the publishing route as a way of inspiring change through stories and writing. He has also been very active in the European Network of (ex) Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (ENUSP).

The book is a series of chapters written by a mix of mental health authors. Some are professionals while others are service users. All share a fundamental perspective that the user voice is essential to the development and delivery of decent services. The book describes a series of different approaches that can support mental health service users towards recovery and challenge discrimination, unemployment and low income. Standout chapters include those by my friends at Bradford University on mental health, culture and ethnicity and a series of chapters on the power and benefits of self-help.

The writing is accessible with a good mix of personal stories and case studies combined with more academic references. It provides some inspirational examples and well as vivid descriptions of the barriers and difficulties people face as they claim their rights. What I particularly like is that the book addresses a full range of diversity issues including gender, culture, sexuality and disability without it feeling like an after thought or tokenism. Given the range of different authors - 61 in total - even if there are certain ones who you do not agree with, there are plenty of others that will resonante and also there are new authors and mental health activists to be introduced to for the first time in the pages. Highly recommended!

To buy a copy of the book you can contact Peter Lehmann publishers at www.peter-lehmann-publishing.com

Full reference: Stastny, Peter & Lehmann, Peter (2007) Alternatives Beyond Psychiatry. Peter Lehmann Publishing: Berlin / Eugene (OR) / Shrewsbury (UK)