Madness, Distress and the Politics of Disablement

Description

One of the ways that scholars and policy makers have attempted to address the problems of madness and distress is by applying theories and policies from disability, including the social model of disability. This book brings together leading scholars and activists from Europe, North America, Australia and India to explore the challenges to that approach and the relationship of madness, distress, and disability.

Helen Spandler is Reader in Mental Health at the University of Central Lancashire and part of the Asylum magazine collective. Jill Anderson coordinates the Mental Health in Higher Education project, works freelance and is a doctoral student at Lancaster University. Bob Sapey is a founder member of CCrAMHP (Critical and Creative Approaches to Mental Health Practice) and a supporter of the Hearing Voices Network.

"An enjoyable and thought-provoking introduction to the relationship between mental health problems and disability." Critical Social Policy "Significant and a must for undergraduates and postgraduates in the fields of sociology, social theory and social policy." Disability and Society "A rewarding and frequently compelling read that does not shy away from grappling with the uncertainties surrounding its field of inquiry." LSE Review of Books "'Distress', 'disability', 'impairment', 'madness', 'recovery' - all are stress tested for their meanings and their options for social activism rehearsed. This is an invaluable book for students of the perennialy contested topic of mental health." David Pilgrim, Liverpool University "This text brings together insights from critical disability studies, mad studies and politicised analyses of mental health to develop a theoretical, empirical and activist response to wider conditions of disablement. The authors clearly demonstrate the potency of theory and the centrality of activism and this book will be of interest to anyone interested in developing politics in a time of austerity" Dan Goodley, Sheffield University