Abolishing the Concept of Mental Illness

In Abolishing the Concept of Mental Illness: Rethinking the Nature of Our Woes, Richard Hallam takes aim at the very concept of mental illness, and explores new ways of thinking about and responding to psychological distress.

Richard Hallam worked as a clinical psychologist, researcher, and lecturer until 2006, mainly in the National Health Service and at University College London and the University of East London. Since then he has worked independently as a writer, researcher, and therapist.

Table of Contents Chapter One: Introducing the issues Chapter Two: Thomas Szasz and the myth of mental illness Chapter Three: 'Mental' and 'bodily' causes of woes: A brief history Chapter Four: 'Major depression': The creation of a mythical disease Chapter Five: Agency, rationality, and the concept of mental illness Chapter Six: Medicalisation: Resistance or replacement? Chapter Seven: Well-being and mental heath Chapter Eight: A future without the concept of mental illness