Written with the help of sufferers and carers to give an accurate consumer's perspective' of how the mental health services react when a person becomes mentally ill, Mental Health Assessments focuses on the problems that can arise when someone undergoes a formal assessment for compulsory admission to hospital. Using case studies drawn from real life and selected by the sufferers and carers, the book examines what can go wrong with the assessment process - for example, if an inappropriate section is made, or if the opportunity for an assessment is missed. The author describes the implications...

This is a practical handbook for all professionals, especially those based in the community, and others working with people suffering from schizophrenia. It is concerned with promoting real understanding of their experiences and developing effective ways to facilitate them to maintain a reasonable quality of life. Featuring many contributions from sufferers, carers and service providers, and based on a tried and tested needs based approach pioneered by the author and her colleagues, it begins by looking at the present state of play' in society's approach to schizophrenia, and the experiences...