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What Mental Illness Really Is… (And What It Isn’t)

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What Mental Illness Really Is… (And What It Isn’t)

By: Lucy Foulkes
Narrated by: Lucy Foulkes
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

We need to rethink the conversation around mental health—psychologist Lucy Foulkes explores how and why.

How do mental health problems arise?

How do we distinguish between the 'normal' challenges of modern life and actual illness?

Is society really experiencing a new mental health crisis?

In this urgently needed book, psychologist Lucy Foulkes investigates what we know about mental illness—and shines a light on what we don't. It offers a profound new approach to how we think, talk and help when it comes to mental health.

(Previously published in 2021 under the title Losing Our Minds.)

©2022 Lucy Foulkes (P)2022 Penguin Audio Anxiety Disorders Mental Health Mood Disorders Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Health

Critic reviews

"A must-read.... Fascinating." (Jo Brand)

"Captivating...engaging and lucid." (Sarah-Jayne Blakemore)

"Clear-headed, compassionate and, ultimately, optimistic." (Mark Haddon)

All stars
Most relevant
It never ceases to amaze me how little the consumption of alcohol is covered (or not rather) in mental health practice and content. I am a recovering alcoholic and know that there is nothing quite like alcohol to disrupt sleep, fuel anxiety and depression and to worsen personal circumstances and mental wellbeing.

Unless symptoms are severe I would always be inclined for someone’s true level of alcohol consumption to be one of the first things that should be established before prescribing any SSRI’s or anti anxiety medications.

If alcohol and substance misuse were covered in the book (at all) then I must have missed it.

This is a good listen though with some great arguments on the ‘normalisation’ of mental ill health and the blurring of boundaries between what actually constitutes a disorder and what does not.

A lot of great opinions but…

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Listening and reading, What Mental Illness really is on the kindle app

Chapter 1:Rising Rates
Chapter 2: Continuum
chapter 3: Moving goalposts
chapter 4: Biology
Chapter 5: Environment
Chapter 6: Adolescent
Chapter 7: Social media
Chapter 8: Rethinking the crisis
Chapter 9: Language matters
Chapter 10: Expert help
Chapter 11: Helping each other and helping ourselves.

Mental health

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A well-written, highly relevant and important, critical but empathic exploration of the concept of mental illness. Warmly recommended for everyone.

Important book

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I went to a talk with Dr Foulkes the other day and was so impressed I had to get her book. It’s a perfect overview of how we see mental illness now and the good and bad things that come with it.

Perfect balance

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very thoroughly researched and carefully written yet with real feeling and sincerity. Crucial messages that everyone needs to know

scientifically yet wholeheartedly written&narrated

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