In our society, medication is often seen as the treatment for severe mental illness, with psychotherapy a secondary treatment. However, quality social interaction may be as important for the recovery of those with severe mental illness as are treatments. This volume makes this point while describing the emotionally moving lives of eight individuals with severe mental illness as they exist in the U.S. mental health system.
Key Features
- Social Insight: Offers social and psychological insight into the experiences of individuals with severe mental illness.
- In-depth Interviews: Based on in-depth interviews with clients, exploring their relationships across various social structures.
- Interaction Dynamics: Focuses on how structures of social interaction can promote or harm psychological growth.
Additional Information
These stories demonstrate how patients can create meaningful lives in the face of great difficulties. The volume explores which structures of interaction encourage growth for people with severe mental illness and which trigger psychological damage. It considers the clients’ relationships with friends, family, peers, spouses, lovers, co-workers, mental health professionals, institutions, the community, and society as a whole. It also examines how interaction dynamics affect the psychological well-being of individuals with severe mental illness.
