'This is an important book. The focus on life stories aligns with the global movement toward positioning experiential knowledge of individuals living with mental health issues at the center of health and social care systems. Narrative approaches will become increasingly important in mental health care, and this book makes an original contribution which has wide relevance to anyone trying to support individuals experiencing mental health issues. I thoroughly recommend it.' Mike Slade, University of Nottingham, UK
List of Figures; List of Tables; Acknowledgements; 1. Introducing the book; 2. The science of mental illness; 3. Vulnerability, stress, and burden in mental illness; 4. Recovery and mental illness; 5. Narrative identity; 6. Narrative identity, illness, and well-being; 7. How did we collect and analyze different life stories?; 8. Overview of narrative identity themes from the initial analyses; 9. Relationship themes in narrative identity; 10. Self themes in narrative identity; 11. Functional level themes in narrative identity; 12. Treatment themes in narrative identity; 13. Summary and synthesis; 14. Understanding the interplay between narrative identity and mental illness – a framework; 15. Tools for narrative repair; Conclusion; Appendix 1; Appendix 2; Appendix 3; Appendix 4; Appendix 5; Appendix 6; Appendix 7; Appendix 8; References; Index.