In First Person Accounts of Mental Illness, case studies of individuals experiencing schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, substance use disorders, and other mental ailments will be provided for students studying the classification and treatment of psychopathology. All of the cases are written from the perspective of the mentally ill individual, providing readers with a unique perspective of the experience of living with a mental disorder. "In their book First Person Accounts of Mental Illness and Recovery, LeCroy and Holschuh offer the student, researcher, or layperson the intimate voice of mental illness from the inside. First Person Accounts of Mental Illness and Recovery is a wonderful book, and it is an ideal, even indispensable, companion to traditional mental health texts. I am grateful that they have given the majority of this book to the voices that are too often unheard." —John S. Brekke, PhD, Frances G. Larson Professor of Social Work Research, School of Social Work, University of Southern California; Fellow, American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare "This is absolutely a must-read for anyone who has been touched by someone with a mental illness, whether it be personal or professional. It is imperative that this book be required reading in any course dealing with psychopathology and the DSM, whether it be in psychology, psychiatry, social work, nursing, or counseling." —Phyllis Solomon, PhD, Professor in the School of Social Policy & Practice and Professor of Social Work in Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania A unique volume of first person narratives written from the perspective of individuals with a mental illness Drawing from a broad range of sources, including narratives written expressly for this book, self-published accounts, and excerpts from previously published memoirs, this distinctive set of personal stories covers and illustrates a wide spectrum of mental disorder categories, including: Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders Mood disorders Anxiety disorders Personality disorders Substance-related disorders Eating disorders Impulse control disorders Cognitive disorders Somatoform disorders Dissociative disorders Gender identity disorders Sleep disorders Disorders usually first diagnosed in infancy, childhood, or adolescence Reflecting a recovery orientation and strengths-based approach, the authentic and relevant stories in First Person Accounts of Mental Illness and Recovery promote a greater appreciation for the individual's role in treatment and an expansion of hope and recovery.

Focuses on a shift away from traditional clinical preoccupations towards new priorities of supporting the patient.

Inspired Recovery is a compilation of true stories from people who have achieved their life goals while managing bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or depression. Julie Edwards has suffered from mental illness her entire life. The eldest of four children born into a destitute family in outback Australia in 1948, Julie was diagnosed with 'manic depression' at age eighteen. Her experiences include severe symptoms of depression, mania and psychosis; numerous treatments including medication and electroconvulsive therapy; violent physical and emotional abuse through dysfunctional relationships; bereavement and loss, including the tragic death of two husbands; substance abuse; serious physical health issues; attempted suicide; complete breakdown and the development of additional psychiatric disorders. Medical treatment and pharmacology play a major role in the recovery process - but so does the human spirit. Now aged sixty, Edwards describes her life as 'filled with joy'! Though a 'cure' for schizoaffective disorder is not yet known, she has developed a successful strategy to achieve recovery and live a rich, full life. It is her story that has inspired her daughter, Sonya Melbourne, to gather and share these beautiful, true accounts as a message of hope for those who suffer from serious mental illnesses, and those who care about them.

This book presents a narrative review of current models of recovery and empowerment on people with severe mental disorders, and the impact of these models and approaches on assistance policies. The authors review conceptual frameworks, research findings, key predictors of recovery and empowerment, evaluation instruments and criteria, and user and families' perspectives on recovery and empowerment. Contemporary ideas of recovery, often referred to as personal recovery, emerged in the USA in the 1970s and 1980s through first person accounts of the lived experience of mental health problems and through accompanying consumer and human rights movements. However, the origins of the recovery movement in mental health can be traced back over several hundred years. The books describes many of these historical influences and the roots of today's approaches to recovery. It also provides a detailed discussion of the concept of, and approach to, empowerment. Whilst acknowledging the diverse definitions of recovery and the associated challenges of its meaningful measurement, the authors also aim to engage with the concept of recovery. Many studies of recovery are helpfully brought together here for the reader, but personal recovery, as a process and outcome, should be much more central to mental health research. A diverse audience of mental health professionals, teachers, students, and researchers, will find this a valuable reference source.

In Recovery recounts the stories of twelve amazing people who have struggled with mental illness and have come out stronger on the other side. Some participants have been in recovery for years while others are newer to wellness. Each participant defines success in a different way. Lauren is a professional athlete competing at the top of her sport as a member of the Ultimate Fighting Championship league, while Ali has found success in living life on a ranch with her terminally ill husband. Success looks different for everyone and one story does not fit all. This book is meant to inspire people who have or are currently struggling with mental illness. In the midst of mental illness, seeing a light at the end of the tunnel is possible. With this book, readers will learn that hope and recovery are real.

Mental Illness: A Guide to Recovery gives you information, gleaned from many sources, which can help you learn to recover. Coping skills needed to deal with the illness can be developed. Materials which can help you reduce symptoms are presented. Recovery does not happen overnight, but step by step, most can make significant recovery. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall... and all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty Dumpty back together again. The same holds true for those of us with a mental illness. The psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, etc. can assist, but it is up to the individual to create conditions which will allow recovery to happen. The neurobiological basis of mental illness is often presented in a fatalistic way. That's the brain chemistry you've got, and that's what you're stuck with; as if the individual was unable to change the chemistry inside his or her own head. Breathing changes brain chemistry. So does exercise, the food you eat, the words you speak, the thoughts you think as well as how often you smile. While drugs are capable of making radical changes in the chemistry of the brain, it is the slow changes over time which will help most in recovery. "Thorough and informative without being technical ...fascinating...very enlightening." Psychiatric Rehabilition Journal (Vol. 28 No.4 Spring 2005 ) "You have made a complex issue easier to understand." Chief Kathryn Landreth, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police.

“Both timely and critical for recovery-oriented practice, this book provides practitioners with the focused, essential knowledge and skills to be truly person-centered and recovery-oriented when supporting an individual’s recovery journey. Dulmus and Nisbet have provided the field with an overdue practical resource. Making the recovery planner’s best practice individual recovery plan format available on Website is brilliant, and every agency will want to incorporate it into its EMR.” —Linda Rosenberg, President/CEO National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, Washington, D.C. “This is a practical and useful tool for case managers and community support workers who are assisting people with serious mental illness toward recovery. Working in a person-centered fashion is what our consumers want and expect, but to date, there have been few published tools with practical value for frontline staff. This resource is timely and relevant.” —Michael F. Hogan, PhD Hogan Health Solutions, Delmar, New York; former NYS Commissioner of Mental Health and Chair of the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, 2002–2003 Proven guidance for creating effective person-centered plans that facilitate the recovery process for individuals with serious mental illness Recent national and international mental health policy is promoting service delivery models that incorporate person-centered and recovery-oriented approaches, in which individuals are in the lead role, defining their own goals for their individualized recovery plans. Person-Centered Recovery Planner for Adults with Serious Mental Illness provides mental health practitioners with a useful resource to implement person-centered planning within a recovery framework when working with individuals with a serious mental illness. Providing a succinct overview of the historical roots, philosophy, and practice of person-centered recovery, Person-Centered Recovery Planner for Adults with Serious Mental Illness is organized around the three stages of recovery—Beginnings, Moving Forward, and Leaving Your Practitioner Behind—yet still allows both the individual and practitioner to revisit any of the three stages during the ebb and flow of an individual’s recovery journey. Sample recovery plans are included, covering the individual’s status, personal priorities, short-term objectives, and recovery steps, and are organized around common recovery goals including: Self-advocacy Family relationships Health and wellness Community involvement Stress management Relapse prevention Personal crisis planning Transportation Social relationships Meaningful activities Life skills A companion Website provides all of the plans found in the book in an easily customizable word-processing format. Person-Centered Recovery Planner for Adults with Serious Mental Illness assists practitioners in becoming effective person-centered facilitators and advocates for recovery that meaningfully supports individuals in achieving their hopes and dreams.