Allen Carr's Easy Way to Control Alcohol

by Allen Carr (Author)


Synopsis
Allen Carr's hundred-cigarettes-a-day addiction drove him to despair, but after countless attempts to quit he discovered what the world had been waiting for - the easy way to stop smoking. Now recognised as the world's leading expert on helping smokers to quit, Allen Carr's informative, no scare tactics methods and techniques are a revelation for those desperate to kick the habit.

Reclaiming Our Children:

A Healing Plan for a Nation in Crisis

by Peter Roger Breggin (Author)

Synopsis
In response to the recent rash of teen violence in our schools, a noted psychiatrist delivers a passionately argued yet highly prescriptive blueprint for healing our relationships with our children.. From recasting our attitudes as parents to restructuring class sizes, limiting homework and fostering honest dialog about the pressures in our society, Reclaiming Our Children shows us the way to profound and lasting peace with and among our children. Beginning with a dramatic shift in adult priorities that places children at the center of our lives, Peter Breggin demonstrates how we can dedicate ourselves to creating meaningful, loving, disciplined, and inspiring relationships with all of our children.

Talking Back to Ritalin:

What Doctors Aren't Telling You About Stimulants & ADHD

by Dick Scruggs (Foreword), Peter Roger Breggin (Author)

Synopsis
By the best-selling author of Talking Back to Prozac, a revised and updated edition of the first and most-compelling book to challenge the use of Ritalin to treat ADHD.. Millions of children take Ritalin for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The drug's manufacturer, Novartis, claims that Ritalin is the "solution" to this widespread problem. But hidden behind the well-oiled public-relations machine is a potentially devastating reality: children are being given a drug that can cause the same bad effects as amphetamine and cocaine, including behavioral disorders, growth suppression, neurological tics, agitation, addiction, and psychosis. Talking Back to Ritalin uncovers these and other startling facts and translates the research findings for parents and doctors alike. An advocate for education not medication, Dr. Breggin empowers parents to channel distracted, disenchanted, and energetic children into powerful, confident, and brilliant members of the family and society.

The Road Back

How to Get Off Psychiatric Drugs Safely

by Jim Harper

The Road Back is a Patent Pending program, first developed in 1999 to assist individuals to taper off medication and eliminate existing side effects a person may be experiencing from the medication.

Your Drug May Be Your Problem:

How and Why to Stop Taking Psychiatric Medications

by Peter Roger Breggin (Author), David Cohen (Author)

Synopsis
The first book to guide patients and doctors through the process of withdrawing from psychiatric drugs.. Psychiatric drugs are prescribed to more than twenty million Americans but can these drugs do more harm than good?While a doctor may take fifteen minutes to determine the need for a psychiatric drug, the patient may end up taking it for months, years, or a lifetime. We deserve to know the dangers in advance -including the difficulties we may encounter when trying to withdraw. Your Drug May Be Your Problem is the only book to provide an up-to-date, uncensored description of the dangers involved in taking every kind of psychiatric medication, and it is the first and only book to explain how to coordinate a safe withdrawal from them.

A Drug-Free Approach to Asperger Syndrome and Autism:

Homeopathic Care for Exceptional Kids

by Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman (Author), Robert Ullman (Author)

Synopsis
A groundbreaking new book from the authors of the best-selling Ritalin Free Kids documenting a safe, effective, and natural treatment for children with Asperger syndrome and autism. Homeopathic medicine offers renewed hope for parents of children on the autism spectrum without the use of conventional drugs. Includes seventeen actual cases drawn from the authors' extensive clinical experience treating a wide range of children with developmental, behavioral and learning challenges. Also included is information on the characteristics of children with Asperger syndrome and autism, other natural approaches, advice and resources for parents, as well as answers to frequently asked questions about autism and homeopathic medicine. A must-read for any parent of a child on the autism spectrum.

A Friend Like Henry:

by Nuala Gardner (Author)

Synopsis
This is the inspiring account of a family's struggle to break into their son's autistic world - and how a dog made the real difference. Dale was still a baby when his parents realised that something wasn't right. Worried, his mother Nuala took him to see several doctors, before finally hearing the word 'autism' for the first time in a specialist's office. Scared but determined that Dale should live a fulfilling life, Nuala describes her despairat her son's condition, her struggle to prevent Dale being excluded from a 'normal' education and her sense of hopeless isolation. Dale's autism was severe and violent and family life was a daily battleground. But the Gardner's lives were transformed when they welcomed a gorgeous Golden Retriever into the family. The special bond between Dale and his dog Henry helped them to produce the breakthrough in Dale they had long sought. From taking a bath to saying 'I love you', Henry helped introduce Dale to all the normal activities most parents take for granted, and set him on the road to being the charming and well-adjusted young man he is today.

This is a heartrending and fascinating account of how one devoted and talented dog helped a little boy conquer his autism

All Cats Have Asperger's Syndrome:

by Kathy Hoopmann (Author)

Synopsis
"All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome" takes a playful look at Asperger Syndrome (AS), drawing inspiration from the feline world in a way that will strike a chord with all those who are familiar with AS. Delightful colour photographs of cats bring to life familiar characteristics such as sensitive hearing, scampering at the first sign of being stroked, and particular eating habits. Touching, humorous and insightful, this book evokes the difficulties and joys of raising a child who is different and leaves the reader with a sense of the dignity, individuality, and potential of people with AS. This engaging book is an ideal, gentle introduction to the world of AS.

Autism and Sensing:

The Unlost Instinct

by Donna Williams (Author)

Book Description
Autism and Sensing: The Unlost Instinct

The realm of sensing is the place we have all come from: that world before mind was thought of as 'me, before body became 'mine', that time when we 'knew' because we FELT the nature of things, the feel of them- when we sensed. This was before we had learned to interpret and see the world not as it was but through our concepts and ideas of what it was. Autism is seen as a disability in a world where interpretation is highly valued, where the realm of mind, of imposed meaning, of words, becomes the place of trust, of proof, a world in which the System of Sensing becomes progressively redundant, devalued, discredited, even discouraged. This book is a journey into a unique way of experiencing the world, suggesting how this unlost instinct has much to teach us about the assumption of so called 'normality'

Published in 1998, this highly controversial and challenging book was the first internationally published text book by a person diagnosed with autism on the importance of the system of sensing in understanding more classically autistic individuals.

Synopsis
The author addresses the question of how things are sensed using her experience as a person with autism. Williams sees perception as having three stages and argues that these stages are moved through progressively during development, to the detriment of the adult. Williams proposes adopting a more holistic viewpoint to provide a new perspective.

Born on a Blue Day:
 
by Daniel Tammet (Author)

Synopsis
'I was born on 31 January 1979 - a Wednesday. I know it was a Wednesday, because the date is blue in my mind and Wednesdays are always blue, like the number nine or the sound of loud voices arguing.' Like the character Hoffman portrayed, he can perform extraordinary maths in his head, sees numbers as shapes, colours, textures and motions, and can learn to speak a language fluently from scratch in three days. He also has a compulsive need for order and routine. He eats exactly 45 grams of porridge for breakfast and cannot leave the house without counting the number of items of clothing he's wearing. If he gets stressed or unhappy he closes his eyes and counts. But in some ways Daniel is not all like the Rain Man. He is virtually unique amongst people who have severe autisitic disorders in being capable of living a fully-functioning, independent life. It is this incredible self-awareness and ability to communicate what it feels like to live in a totally extraordinary way that makes BORN ON A BLUE DAY so powerful.

Can I Tell You About Asperger Syndrome?:

A Guide for Friends and Family

by Jude Welton (Author), Jane Telford (Illustrator)

Synopsis
Meet Adam - a young boy with AS. Adam invites young readers to learn about AS from his perspective. He helps children understand the difficulties faced by a child with AS - he tells them what AS is, what it feels like to have AS and how they can help children with AS by understanding their differences and appreciating their many talents. This illustrated book is ideally suited for boys and girls between 7 and 15 years old and also serves as an excellent starting point for family and classroom discussions.

Daniel Isn't Talking:

by Marti Leimbach (Author)

Synopsis
A powerful novel exploring the effects of autism on a young family from Marti Leimbach, author of the international bestseller 'Dying Young', who has experienced and dealt with the condition within her immediate family. My husband saw me at a party and decided he wanted to marry me. Melanie Marsh is an American living in London married to Stephen, the perfect Englishman, who knew the minute he saw her that she was to be his future. But when their youngest child is diagnosed with autism their marriage starts to unravel at great speed. Stephen runs back into the arms of his previous girlfriend while Melanie does everything in her power to help her son and keep her family together. And then one day Melanie hears about a man named Andy O'Connor, who calls himself a "play therapist" and has a client list so long she can barely get him on the phone. Some say he's a maverick and a con artist of the first degree, but when he walks into the house and starts playing with her child, Melanie knows she's found the key to her son's success, and possibly to her own happiness. 'Daniel Isn't Talking' is a passionate and darkly humorous novel that explores a mother's determination to help her child. A love story for grown ups, it somehow extends its wisdom far beyond the parameters of disability and into the substance of human nature itself. A tense, moving novel that will make you laugh out loud even as it breaks your heart.

About the Author
Marti Leimbach was born in 1963 in Washington DC. She has written several other novels, one of which, `Dying Young', was turned into a major feature film in 1991 staring Julia Roberts. Marti now lives in the UK

Diet Intervention and Autism:

Implementing the Gluten Free and Casein Free Diet for Autistic Children and Adults

by Marilyn Le Breton (Author)

Synopsis
People with autism often are intolerant of gluten (a protein in four types of cereal) and casein (a protein found in animal's milk). There are many testaments to the benefits for such people of a diet that excludes gluten, casein, monosodium glutamate and aspartame, and these persuaded Marilyn Le Breton to put her autistic son Jack on the diet. This is the book that Marilyn wishes had been available to her when she first did so. In it she explains what the diet is all about and how it works, what foods can form part of the diet and what should be excluded. She addresses frequently asked questions and misconceptions, such as 'Is the diet too difficult and time-consuming? How strictly do I need to adhere to it? Is the diet expensive to implement?' and gives practical advice on basic equipment and ingredients, what to expect when your child starts the diet, how to adapt family meals and how to minimise cross-contamination in the kitchen. The book includes a wide selection of recipes, an extensive list of addresses and websites of suppliers of foodstuffs in the UK, and suggestions for finding out more information. It is the first book of its kind to be written specifically for those living in the UK. Marilyn's own experience and sensible approach ensure that this book will be invaluable for any parent of a child with autism, or any adult considering embarking on the diet.

Different Like Me:

My Book of Autism Heroes

by Marc Thomas (Illustrator), Jennifer Elder (Illustrator)

Synopsis
Different Like Me introduces children aged 8-12 years to famous, inspirational figures from the world of science, art, maths, literature, philosophy and comedy. Eight-year-old Quinn, a young boy with Asperger's Syndrome, tells young readers about the achievements and characteristics of his autism heroes, from Albert Einstein, Dian Fossey and Wassily Kandinsky to Lewis Carroll, Benjamin Banneker and Julia Bowman Robinson, among others. All excel in different fields, but are united by the fact that they often found it difficult to fit in - just like Quinn. Fully illustrated in colour and written in child-friendly language, this book will be a wonderful resource for children, particularly children with autism, their parents, teachers, carers and siblings.

Emergence:

Labeled Autistic

by Temple Grandin (Author), Margaret M. Scariano (Author)

Synopsis
Temple Grandin was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. An intelligent child with a thirst for knowledge, but unable to properly express herself or control her behaviour, Temple struggled through grade school. Eventually moved from a "normal" school to an educational program for autistic children, she began to suffer "nerve attacks." Now Temple tells the story of how she went from a fear-gripped, autistic child to a successful professional and a world leader in her field. A chronicle of perseverance and courage, EMERGENCE gives new hope and insight into the tragedy of autism and the vast potential of the human spirit.

Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome:

A User Guide to Adolescence

by Luke Jackson (Author)

Synopsis
Have you ever been called a freak or a geek? Have you ever felt like one? Luke Jackson is 13 years old and has Asperger Syndrome. Over the years Luke has learned to laugh at such names but there are other aspects of life which are more difficult. Adolescence and the teenage years are a minefield of emotions, transitions and decisions and when a child has Asperger Syndrome, the result is often explosive. Luke writes briefly about his younger autistic and AD/HD brothers, providing amusing insights into the antics of his younger years and advice for parents, carers and teachers of younger AS children. However, his main reason for writing was because "so many books are written about us, but none are written directly to adolescents with Asperger Syndrome. I thought I would write one in the hope that we could all learn together".

My Brother Is Different:

A Book for Young Children Who Have a Brother or Sister with Autism

by Louise Gorrod (Author), Beccy Carver (Illustrator)

Synopsis
A booklet to help young siblings of autistic children understand what autism is.

From the Author
Why this book was written
This book was written to help my daughters, Jemma and Jade, understand why their brother, Jack, did the things he did and help them accept that even though he did embarrasing things when we were out he couldn't actually help it! Why does he knock my games off the table?, he's so destructive. Why does he squeal when we go out? Why doesn't he get told off when he's naughty like I do? I hope that this book will help other families like ours!

Teaching Children with Autism to Mind-read

by Patricia Howlin (Author), Simon BaronCohen (Author), Julie ,Dr. Hadwin (Author)

Book Description
Theory of Mind in the ability to infer other people's mental states and to use this information to interpret speech and predict action. This practical book applies these mind-reading principles to children with autism, focusing chiefly on treating their social and communicative abnormalties. Guiding readers through the underlying experimental and clinical principles of this experimental theory, the authors provide practitioners with an adaptable and unique program for tackling behavioral problems in autistic children.

Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew:

by Ellen Notbohm (Author

Ellen Notbohm characterizes the Ten Things as "signposts along the way (on) a journey towards a productive, independent adulthood" but they also inform anyone around a child with autism about its most basic elements. Anyone with such a child shouldn’t buy one book: they should buy as many as they can, to give as gifts of understanding.

When My Worries Get Too Big:

A Relaxation Book for Children Who Live with Anxiety

by Brenda Smith Myles (Foreword), Kari D. Buron (Author)

Originally entitled When my autism gets too big
More than anything, losing control can cause major problems for children who have an autism spectrum disorder. This book gives young children an opportunity to explore with parents or teachers their own feelings as they react to events in their daily lives while learning some useful relaxation techniques. Children who use the simple strategies presented in this charming book, illustrated by the author, will find themselves more relaxed and ready to work or play. Karen has worked for many years as a special needs teacher.

Women from Another Planet?:  Our Lives in the Universe of Autism

by Jean Kearns Miller (Author)

About the Book

Mention the word autism and the room suddenly turns silent. It’s the dreaded A word.

People’s attention turns to late night TV public service ads declaring that autistic children are “imprisoned” by autism and need curing at all cost. Recent autobiographies have helped dispel this dire description by suggesting that autism is not a prison and that the door is unlocked and you’re free to come in. Women from Another Planet? moves beyond these autistic life stories in important ways. It’s a collection of stories and conversations, all of them by women on the autism spectrum who speak candidly, insightfully, and often engagingly about both their gender in terms of their autism and their autism in terms of their gender. It is written not just for parents and professionals, like the other works, but also to those women still searching for ways to understand the unnamed difference they live with, as well as the wider audience of discerning readers. If you enter the unlocked door of these Women from Another Planet? you may end up with a question mark or two about your planet. Is normalcy really all it’s cracked up to be?

About the Author

Jean Kearns Miller is a woman on the autism spectrum. Her official diagnoses are ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) with AS (Asperger Syndrome) traits, and recurrent major depression. She graduated from Marygrove College in 1970, has an MA in rhetoric & writing from the University of Tulsa, and completed doctoral coursework in rhetoric & composition at Purdue. She spent several years as a technical writer/editor before following a reluctant calling to teach, a job she absolutely hated when first she did it. She is an avid essayist and writer of poetry and fiction, and teaches writing full time at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she advocates for students dealing with mental health problems and neurological difficulties.

Yoga for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders:

A Step-by-step Guide for Parents and Caregivers

by Louise Goldberg (Foreword), Dion E. Betts (Author), Stacey W. Betts (Author)

Synopsis
Having successfully used yoga to combat the stress of their own busy lives, Dion and Stacey Betts discovered its potential for their son Joshua, who has Asperger Syndrome. This fully-illustrated book combines the authors' professional expertise with their experience of parenting, offering a range of gentle and fun yoga positions and breathing techniques that are effective in dealing with the increased levels of anxiety, disorientation and tactile sensitivity often found in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The authors give step-by-step descriptions of warming-up, strengthening, calming, and tension-releasing exercises that are suitable for reducing coping mechanisms such as hand-flapping, and increasing muscle tone, muscle strength and body awareness. They also offer a range of short and long sequences that can be tailored to fit the needs of the individual child. "Yoga for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders" is ideal for parents and caregivers who want to use simple yoga techniques to help children with ASDs overcome some of the symptoms of the disorder.

How Do You Want Me?

by Ruby Wax (Author)

Synopsis
Ruby Wax has a reputation for being one of TV's funniest and most notorious interviewers. Her up-front style is shockingly direct and her encounters with the rich and famous gripped millions during the 1990s. Part memoir and part exploration, this book takes us on a funny journey through life's big questions. Where, she asks, is the "Rough Guide to Life?" and the manual on "How to be a grown-up"? She reveals secrets she has learned from film stars and gurus, billionaires and therapists.

From the Publisher
This is Ruby’s first, long awaited book. Part memoir, part exploration, Ruby takes us on a very funny journey through life’s big questions

From the Author
‘I’ve spent my life asking people I meet (and that’s my obsession, meeting people) "Have you got an answer? Are you contented?" Or if I haven’t asked directly I’ve looked into their eyes to see if they know – and I promise you they don’t. I used my job just so that I could be intrusive, whilst pretending it was in the name of entertainment. But really it wasall for me. I got to ask the ‘Big Boys’ and they don’t know either. Bill Gates doesn’t know. Clearly. In fact, he really looks like he doesn’t know – least of all why he forgot to comb the back of his hair.’

About the Author
Ruby Wax’s acting career has spanned the stage and screen, and her writing talent created some of our favourite television comedies, but she is probably best known for her BBC series of interviews in which she memorably tackled some of the world’s most famous personalities.

Burn:

A Bipolar Memoir

by Shane Feldman (Author)

Synopsis
The author, Shane Feldman, is a college-aged person suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar. In this memoir he allows the reader to observe actual thoughts and behaviors exhibited as a manic episode occurred in a real-time journal. He allows the reader to follow him on an intimate descent and recovery from a manic episode along with providing a prologue detailing his relatively normal life and high level of functionality in the absence of devastating psychological symptoms. After the episode, Shane added a series of insightful postdated footnotes strategically located to aid the reader in fully understanding the complexity of his mind frame. The memoir is far from being simply a documentation of a disease as Shane demonstrates his poetic and perceptive brilliance in a series of satires about the relationships between religion, society, and government. Though Mr. Feldman has suffered serious psychological illness for a small percent of his life...he is one-hundred percent a writer and has written and published a wide variety of works.


Cognitive-behavioral Therapy for Bipolar Disorder:

by Monica Ramirez Basco (Author), A.John Rush (Author)

Book Description
A comprehensive approach to the treatment of bipolar disorder, this book details an innovative program of interventions that augments rather than replaces pharmacotherapy. Topics covered include patient and family education, early symptom detection for the prevention of relapse, methods for the enhancement of treatment compliance, strategies for the remediation of subsyndromal symptoms of depression and mania, and ways to identify and resolve psychosocial and interpersonal problems. Each chapter provides session-by-session instructions, as well as patient assignments and clear and concise directions for the implementation of each intervention. This book will be of interest to therapists from a range of backgrounds, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, and counselors, as well as researchers and students in mental health. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Synopsis
From leading scientist-practitioners, this pragmatic, accessible book provides a complete framework for individualized assessment and treatment of bipolar disorder. It addresses the complexities of working with individuals with broadly varying histories and clinical presentations, including those who have been recently diagnosed, those who are symptomatically stable, and those who struggle day to day to achieve symptom remission. Extensive case material illustrates proven strategies for conceptualizing patients' needs and working collaboratively to help them adhere to medication treatments, recognize the early warning signs of manic and depressive episodes, build coping skills, and manage specific symptoms. The second edition is a complete revision of the original volume, updated and restructured to be even more user friendly for clinicians.

Daughters of Madness:

Growing Up and Older with a Mentally Ill Mother

by Susan Nathiel

Synopsis
This book tells the stories of adults who grew up as children of mentally ill mothers at a time when mental illness was even more stigmatizing than it is today. They are what the author calls "the daughters of madness," and in their young lives there were forced to tread on shaky ground. "Telling someone that there's mental illness in your family, and watching the reaction is not for the faint-hearted," says the therapist. "Telling them that it is your mother who's mentally ill certainly ups the ante." A veteran therapist with 35 years experience, the author takes us into this traumatic world - each of her chapters covering a major developmental period for the daughter of a mentally ill mother - and then explains how these now-adult daughters faced and cope with mental illness in their mothers. While the stories of these daughters are central to the book, the author also offers her professional insights into exactly how maternal impairment affects infants, children and adolescents. Women, significantly more than men, are often diagnosed with serious mental illness after they become parents.

So what effect does a mentally ill mother have on a growing child, teenager or adult daughter, who looks to her not only for the deepest and most abiding love, but also a sense of what the world is all about? The author also makes accessible the latest research on interpersonal neurobiology, attachment and the way a child's brain and mind develop in the context of that relationship. Some of the major topics addressed include: feelings of guilt in the child - 'Is it my fault?'; keeping the secret; role reversal - when child acts as parent; fear of the same fate; building resilience and accepting help; and, insights from daughters of mothers who were schizophrenic, psychotic, severely depressed, paranoid and personality-disordered.

Natural Medicine Guide to Bipolar Disorder:

by Stephanie Marohn (Author)

Synopsis
Contains more than a dozen therapeutic options and case studies for patients suffering from bi-polar disorder. Included are interviews with leading doctors and practitioners in the fields of homeopathy, biochemistry, allergy-elimination, biological and anthroposophic medicine, shamanic healing and more.

Abi's Story

by Jember Teferra (Author)

Synopsis
Written by his mother, this is the tragic story of Abi, a young man from Ethiopia who took his own life after a battle against mental illness. Abi escaped the horror of Ethiopia's Marxist military revolution, this book provides a unique insight into the psychological trauma suffered by the victims of war. This original and extraordinarily moving book charts Abi's life in words and pictures and attempts to make sense of his tragic death. About the Author Dr Jember Teferra was Abi's mother. This book was written by her and her family in Abi's memory. Dr Jember Teferra set up a trust to fund research into the psychological problems of the victims of war. Her aim was to help people in a similar position to her son. She also wants to provide more insight into this area and inform psychiatrists of this type of 'mental illness'. Book Extract We never know what it feels like to be with the Good Lord where we have no more earthly care to worry about. I hope, somehow, those who have left us to be with Him can see or know that their past concerns are addressed their wishes have been fulfilled.What was worrying our beloved Abi at the last session in the hospital consulting room, at the royal Preston Hospital, Avondale unit where we were sitting for group discussion? I clearly remember what the Psychiatrist said, " I am afraid your son's case does not fit into a British Black or a British white mental illness category". I can just remember my son abruptly getting up very angry and rushing to the door, opening it and turning towards me before walking out. I can still hear him saying " You are wasting your time, Emamma, this people are dummies. I have repeatedly told you that they do not understand my case. I think that, if I ever get healed, I will help other victims like myself. It will only be someone like me who has been through such illness that can help those in similar circumstances". He was not only concerned for himself but for all other in similar circumstances. He obviously had a burning desire to be in a position to help those victims of political conflict, political imprisonment, displacement and other human suffering such as escapees, like himself, from enforced conscription.In today's world we are told that some 20 or more wars officially or unofficially go on in different parts of the world. Therefore, there must surely be more and more Abi's whose pain, agony and depression and other related mental health problems are not understood or dismissed by the ordinary mental health services and psychiatrists. Abi, very unfortunately, has suddenly chosen to leave us by taking his own life. We will always feel hurt and up-set and cherish his memory whenever we think how much pain, agony and suffering have caused this action. But we can still save many of them who are in his category'. We, as a family, have felt committed to his cause. Within our limitation we can, at least, address his concern by setting up a Trust to help carry out research which will result in attention being given and focusing on victims of wars, political conflicts, political imprisonment, enforced conscriptions and displacement as well as any direct or indirect problems related to these situations.

Al-Junun: Mental Illness in the Islamic World

by Ihsan Al-Issa (Editor)

Book Description
International Arab Psychological Association. Emphasizes the central influence of cultural factors on psychopathology as the key to understanding mental illness and the development of psychiatric services in Islamic cultures. For researchers and practitioners in the area of mental health as well as social sciences.

Black and Minority Ethnic Communities and Homelessness in Scotland

by Gina Netto (Author)

Synopsis
This research report was commissioned by the Scottish Executive Development Department to examine the provision and use of homelessness services in black and minority ethnic communities in Scotland, including refugees and Gypsies/Travellers. The definition of homelessness used includes people who are at risk of homelessness, homeless applicants, households accepted as homeless and other groups such as rough sleepers. Issues discussed include: experiences of homeless people, including black and minority ethnic women escaping domestic abuse; mapping homelessness service provider agencies; factors which increase vulnerability of particular groups; the perspectives of local authorities; and an analysis of homelessness statistics.

Black Pain:

It Just Looks Like We're Not Hurting

by Terrie Williams (Author)

Book Description
Terrie Williams knows that Black people are hurting. She knows because she's one of them.

Terrie had made it: she had launched her own public relations company with such clients as Eddie Murphy and Johnnie Cochran. Yet she was in constant pain, waking up in terror, overeating in search of relief. For thirty years she kept on her game face of success, exhausting herself daily to satisfy her clients' needs while neglecting her own. Terrie finally collapsed, staying in bed for days. She had no clue what was wrong or if there was a way out. She had hit rock bottom and she needed and got help. She learned her problem had a name -- depression -- and that many suffered from it, limping through their days, hiding their hurt. As she healed, her mission became clear: break the silence of this crippling taboo and help those who suffer.

Black Pain identifies emotional pain -- which uniquely and profoundly affects the Black experience -- as the root of lashing out through desperate acts of crime, violence, drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders, workaholism, and addiction to shopping, gambling, and sex. Few realize these destructive acts are symptoms of our inner sorrow. Black people are dying. Everywhere we turn, in the faces we see and the headlines we read, we feel in our gut that something is wrong, but we don't know what it is. It's time to recognize it and work through our trauma.

In Black Pain, Terrie has inspired the famous and the ordinary to speak out and mental health professionals to offer solutions. The book is a mirror turned on you. Do you see yourself and your loved ones here? Do the descriptions of how the pain looks, feels, and sounds seem far too familiar? Now you can do something about it. Stop suffering. The help the community needs is here: a clear explanation of our troubles and a guide to finding relief through faith, therapy, diet, and exercise, as well as through building a supportive network (and eliminating toxic people).

Black Pain encourages us to face the truth about the issue that plunges our spirits into darkness, so that we can step into the healing light. You are not on the ledge alone.

Breaking the Circles of Fear:

A Review of the Relationship Between Mental Health Services & African & Caribbean Communities

by Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health (Author)

Synopsis
Black people mistrust and often fear services, and staff are often wary of the black community, fearing criticism and not knowing how to respond. This cycle is fuelled by prejudice, misunderstanding, misconceptions and sometimes racism. SCMH's major policy review of 2002 documents these "circles of fear" and the impediments to change which lead to poorer treatment and care of African and African Caribbean adults. Its groundbreaking recommendations chart a programme of reform aimed at "Breaking the Circles of Fear" and delivering mental health services which meet their needs and aspirations.

Can I Get a Witness?:

For Sisters When the Blues Is More Than a Song

by Julia A. Boyd (Author)

Synopsis

Depression is the leading cause of mental health-related deaths for both blacks and whites in America. Yet it is a label that many women are reluctant to embrace. In Can I Get a Witness?, the first prescriptive book for black women on depression, bestselling author and psychotherapist Julia A. Boyd explores the crucial links between self-esteem, depression, and women's health. In the sassy, witty, down-to-earth voices of sisters facing the reality of depression in their lives, Can I Get a Witness? offers a lively debate on labeling, coping strategies, and therapies for help and healing. With her characteristic wisdom and respect for all points of view, Juha Boyd debunks myths about depression, provides a clear picture of the implications for black women's health, and shares her own personal struggle with "the beast." She offers practical solutions for identifying symptoms, as well as recovery strategies, exercises, inspiring anecdotes, the latest information on medications, and answers to the most commonly asked questions.

Counseling American Muslims: Understanding the Faith and Helping the People

by Ahmed Nezar Kobeisy (Author)

Review

In order to properly understand a religion, one must first understand its background, history, social context, and precepts. It is very difficult to accomplish this in one book, particularly with as rich and complex a faith as Islam. However, Kobeisy has come very close to doing so, as he is extremely persuasive and articulate....Counseling American Muslims would be a worthwhile book for any psychologist, therapist, or other counselor, especially in light of our society's current preoccupation with Islam and the pressure that this preoccupation brings to bear on our Muslim neighbors. Very sensible and reasonable recommendations are made for those who would be counseling Muslims in different settings. Multicultural Review

"With this book, Ahmed Kobeisy has established himself as the leader in the field of Muslim counseling. Simply put, there is no other published book that examines the issues Kobeisy presents here with such clarity. This book will be required reading for years to come for counsellors and chaplains who work with Muslims, as well as Islamic religious and community leaders." - Ingrid Mattson, Vice-President, The Islamic Society of North America

Crossing the Boundary Black Women Survive Incest

by Melba Wilson (Author)

Synopsis
Discusses the plight of Black women in Britain who have had to deal with incest, and shows how the pressure to preserve of the family and the myths about Black women have hindered the healing process.

Cultural Diversity, Mental Health and Psychiatry: The Struggle Against Racism

by Suman Fernando (Author)

Synopsis
According to the National Service Framework for mental health published by the Department of Health in 1999 black and minority ethnic communities have little confidence in mental health services. Cultural Diversity, Mental Health and Psychiatry examines how and why this situation has come about, and makes specific practical, often surprising, suggestions for changing the status quo. In his latest and most critical analysis, Suman Fernando reflects on the current situation in light of his own personal experience, academic research and anecdotal reports. He weaves together themes of immense importance for the future of psychiatry and mental health services in a multi-cultural setting, exploring: - the nature of racism and its permeation into mental health services - the inside story of the struggle against racism in statutory and voluntary sectors of the mental health system - the history of psychiatry and the role of spirituality, holistic thinking, psychotherapy and Asian traditions of medicine.

Desert Flower:

by Waris Dirie (Author)

Synopsis
Waris Dirie, whose name means "desert flower", was born in Somalia of nomadic parents. She underwent extreme female circumcision at the age of five, and when she was 13 her father sold her into marriage with a 60-year-old for five camels, at which time she ran away. She was discovered by a fashion photographer in the United States whilst working as a janitor at McDonald's, and became a model who has been used to promote Revlon skin-care products. She also speaks on women's rights in Africa and travels the world to give lectures on behalf of the UN. This is her autobiography.

About the Author
Waris Dirie is an internationally renowned model and a face of Revlon skincare products. She was appointed by the United Nations in 1997 as a special ambassador for women's rights to eliminate the practice of female genital mutilation. She lives in New York. Virago will publish her new book in 2001.

Forensic Psychiatry, Race and Culture

by Suman Fernando (Author), David Ndegwa (Author), Melba Wilson (Author)

Synopsis
Forensic psychiatry is the discipline which distinguishes the "mad" from the "bad", but are its values inherently racist? Why are individuals from non-Western backgrounds over-represented statistically in those diagnosed with schizophrenia and other serious illnesses? The authors argue that the values on which psychiatry is based are firmly rooted in ethnocentric Western culture, with profound implications for individual diagnosis and systems of care. Through detailed exploration of the history of psychiatry, current clinical issues and present public policy, this book traces the growth of a system in which non-conformity to the prevailing cultural norms risks alienation and diagnosis of mental disorder.

In and Out of Our Right Minds:

The Mental Health of African American Women

by D Brown (Author)

Synopsis
African American women have commonly been portrayed as "pillars" of their community - resilient mothers, sisters, wives and grandmothers who remain steadfast in the face of all adversities. While these portrayals imply that African American women have few psychological problems, the scientific literature and demographic data present a different picture. They reveal that African American women are at increased risk for psychological distress because of factors that disproportionately affect them, including lower incomes, greater poverty and unemployment, unmarried motherhood, racism and poor physical health. At the same time, rates of mental illness are low. Using a race, gender and social-class context, this volume challenges the traditional notions of mental health and mental illness as they apply to African American women, focusing on the contradictions between the strengths and vulnerabilities of this population.

It's Happening to Me

by Rosealine Allen (Author)

From the Author
I tell the story from my childhood because as a black girl growing up as a minority in Britain, we hear so little about each other. This is particularly true when we branch out and become involved in the social institutions that form the backbone of British citizens - school, university, the work place, the media. The majority of us black Britons have been ghettoized, and as a result, those that were children of immigrant parents, have had remarkably scant, utilitarian lives. For example all of my siblings were expected to work on leaving school rather than pursue experiences that would cultivate and enrich their lives such as
pursuing an education which is a convention in middle England.

The truth is, we all have interesting stories to tell and sharing them is important to our cohesion as a community, to our survival and to our growth and development.

If we are to heal ourselves of the wrongs done against us both outside of our communities and within them, we need to start telling our stories, so that we can objectify our experiences and leave them open to comment both from ourselves and others in order to decide how best to pullulate from the experience.

I suppose in light of what I have said in my conclusion, we must all assess our lives now and decide whether 'God' is for us or against us. If we decide 'they' are against us, we must look at how best we can go forward to make the most of what we have or persuade those who have influence with 'God' to change their attitude to us.

Losing Control:

Loving a Black Child with Bipolar Disorder

by Cassandra Joubert (Author), Linda Thompson Adams (Author), Jan Hutchinson (Author)

Book Description
A true story, Losing Control chronicles an African-American mother's struggle with her daughter's mental illness, which after more than a decade of help-seeking, heartache and confusion, is finally determined to be bipolar disorder. Her difficulties in managing symptoms of her child's illness, the lack of social and emotional support, and the grief this mother faces as the diagnosis is finally determined are vividly and courageously discussed. A medical perspective on bipolar disorder, including definitions, symptoms and treatment in a cultural context is provided. Resources to help families deal with the stigma attached to mental illness, and resources that can be helpful in managing its course are also provided.

Mental Health and Hindu Psychology

by Swami Akhilananda (Author)

Book Description
Swami Akhilananda shows how to reach mental health by applying the classic techniques of Hinduism. The author explains how a stable and healthy mind is the starting point for spiritual quest. He thus brings together psychology and religion in a most universal manner, showing that personality development and the search for ultimate values are one and the same discipline. The books approach is hard-hitting and practical, using case histories from the Swami's thirty-five years' counselling experience. This is a reprint of the 1951 edition.

Mental Health in Black America

by Harold W. Neighbors (Editor), James S. Jackson (Editor)

Synopsis
This volume details the self-reported stress of being Black in the United States, and documents the cultural resources African Americans draw upon to overcome adversity and maintain a positive, healthy perspective on life. Based on data obtained from a United States National Survey of Black Americans, the book first discusses psychological and sociological factors affecting life satisfaction. Contributors then explore how these psychosocial factors contribute to such health problems as alcoholism and hypertension. The volume concludes with an examination of strategies Black Americans use in their attempt to solve life problems. These include: prayer; avoidance; active problem-solving; and seeking help from family, community mental health providers and law enforcement agencies.

Mental Health, Race and Culture

by Suman Fernando (author)

Synopsis
Since its first publication in 1991, this book has been a seminal text in the field of race and culture in mental health. For the second edition, the text has been thoroughly revised and updated. The result is a book that presents a critical account of Western psychiatry and psychology seen from a cross-cultural perspective that addresses ways in which ideas about "race" and racism continue to influence theory and practice in the field. The author proposes imaginative and constructive ways in which theory and practice may be re-structured to take on board wisdom and technologies from all cultural traditions and thereby achieve a practical model for mental health that is universally applicable.

Race, Culture and Psychotherapy

by Suman Fernando (Foreword), Stephen Palmer (Editor), Roy Moodley (Editor)

Synopsis
What is multicultural psychotherapy? How do we integrate issues of gender, class and sexual orientation in multicultural psychotherapy? "Race, Culture and Psychotherapy" provides a thorough critical examination of contemporary multiculturalism and culturalism, including discussion of the full range of issues, debates and controversies that are emerging in the field of multicultural psychotherapy. Beginning with a general critique of race, culture and ethnicity, the book explores issues, such as the notion of interiority and exteriority in psychotherapy, racism in the clinical room, race and countertransference conflicts, spirituality and traditional healing issues. Contributors from the United States, Britain and Canada draw on their professional experience to provide comprehensive and balanced coverage of the following subjects: Critical Perspectives in Race and Culture in Psychotherapy, Governing Race in the Transference, Racism, Ethnicity and Countertransference, Intersecting Gender, Race, Class and Sexual orientation, Spirituality, Cultural Healing and Psychotherapy, and Future Directions.

Raised Voices

by Melba Wilson (Author), Joy Francis (Author)

Synopsis
A report commissioned by Diverse Minds, the Mind Race and Culture Unit, which examines African-Caribbean and African users' views and experiences of mental health services in England and Wales.

Saving Our Last Nerve:

The Black Woman's Path to Mental Health

by Marilyn Martin (Author)

Synopsis
Mental health is a frequently overlooked aspect of African American health care, especially among women. This guide offers advice for helping African American women handle the stresses of everyday life and anticipate and prepare for long-term mental health. While acknowledging the myth of the 'strong black female', it stresses the importance of maintaining support systems and developing self-esteem to combat self-hatred. Also included are tips for negotiating the mental health system and understanding various types of treatments, as well as advice for instilling good health habits in the next generation.

Standing in the Shadows:

Understanding and Overcoming Depression in Black Men

by John Head (Author)

Book Description

A first-of-its-kind exploration of black men and depression from an award-winning journalist

The first book to reveal the depths of black men’s buried mental and emotional pain, Standing in the Shadows weaves the author’s story of his twenty-five-year struggle with depression with a cultural analysis of how the illness is perceived in the black community—and why nobody wants to talk about it.In mainstream society depression and mental illness are still somewhat taboo subjects; in the black community they are topics that are almost completely shrouded in secrecy. As a result, millions of black men are suffering in silence or getting treatment only in the most extreme circumstances—in emergency rooms, homeless shelters, and prisons. The neglect of emotional disorders among men in the black community is nothing less than racial suicide. John Head’s explosive work, Standing in the Shadows,Makes Me Wanna Holler, Standing in the Shadows challenges both the African American community and the psychiatric community to end the silent suffering of black men by taking responsibility for a problem that’s been ignored for far too long. Additionally, Standing in the Shadows gives women an understanding of depression that enables them to help black men mend their relationships, their families, and themselves