The UK's first jargon-fee guide to mental health aimed at the general public is published this week.
The Mind: A User's Guide, edited by Dr Raj Persaud, provides easy-to-understand information designed to help the one-in-four people in the UK who suffer from some form of mental problem during their lives and those who care for them.
The Mind is the brainchild of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, with chapters written by 60 mental health experts, including two from the University of Bristol.
David Nutt, Professor of Psychopharmacology at the University of Bristol, contributed to the chapter on Therapies, Treatments and Medication, while Dr Jonathan Evans, Consultant Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry at the University, was joint author on the chapter Suicide and Self Harm.
The majority of the chapters have a commentary by Dr Persaud and details of where to go for further information, support and advice.
"When I was approached by the Royal College of Psychiatrists to get involved in this book, I was only too happy to give my support,” says Dr. Raj Persaud. "There is still a huge stigma attached to mental illness, a stigma born of lack of understanding. We hope that the publication of The Mind will start to change this.”
The first section provides easy to understand information on disorders of the mind with chapters covering a range of issues from Alzheimer's and dementias to depression, personality disorder, post -traumatic stress disorder, and less common conditions such as Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome. Other chapters give a simple guide to how the brain works and advice on diagnosis.
Section two looks at managing the mind and covers areas including bereavement and grief, complementary medicines, carers and caring, as well as issues such as drugs, alcohol, domestic violence and gambling.
The Mind also looks to challenge the stigma so often associated with mental illness and addresses many of the myths and misconceptions that deter people from seeking the early help that will ensure they get the best treatment.
Professor Sheila Hollins, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists said, "One in four people suffer from mental health problems at some time in their lives. We believe there is no health without mental health, so were amazed to discover that no easy-to-understand guide to the mind and mental disorders existed. It was a situation that we felt had to be put right. We hope that The Mind will help those who have a mental illness and those who care for them to better understand what is happening to them and encourage them to seek the early medical help they may need.”
MENTAL HEALTH – SOME FACTS AND FIGURES
Mental Health Today