Abolishing the Concept of Mental Illness

In Abolishing the Concept of Mental Illness: Rethinking the Nature of Our Woes, Richard Hallam takes aim at the very concept of mental illness, and explores new ways of thinking about and responding to psychological distress. Though the concept of mental illness has infiltrated everyday language, academic research, and public policy-making, there is very little evidence that woes are caused by somatic dysfunction. This timely book rebuts arguments put forward to defend the illness myth and traces historical sources of the mind/body debate. The author presents a balanced overview of the past utility and current disadvantages of employing a medical illness metaphor against the backdrop of current UK clinical practice. Insightful and easy to read, Abolishing the Concept of Mental Illness will appeal to all professionals and academics working in clinical psychology, as well as psychotherapists and other mental health practitioners.

Richard Hallam worked as a clinical psychologist, researcher, and lecturer until 2006, mainly in the National Health Service and at University College London and the University of East London. Since then he has worked independently as a writer, researcher, and therapist.

Table of Contents Chapter One: Introducing the issues Chapter Two: Thomas Szasz and the myth of mental illness Chapter Three: 'Mental' and 'bodily' causes of woes: A brief history Chapter Four: 'Major depression': The creation of a mythical disease Chapter Five: Agency, rationality, and the concept of mental illness Chapter Six: Medicalisation: Resistance or replacement? Chapter Seven: Well-being and mental heath Chapter Eight: A future without the concept of mental illness