One of the reasons that stigma around mental illness persists in society is because people oftentimes have little understanding of what it’s like to live with mental illness. Sites like The Mighty and OC87 Recovery Diaries offer thoughtful glimpses into living with depression, living with bipolar disorder, and even what living with schizophrenia is like.
But part of the problem comes, too, with understanding how treatment for mental illness works. Like what happens in a group home, when we as a society seek to empty psychiatric hospitals of their longtime patients? How does a group home in a community actually work?
If you’ve always wondered but never knew, have I got a book for you.
Meet Dr. Dan Tomasulo. Dan, as many of you recognize, has been one of our long-time contributors here at Psych Central, both with original articles as well as his continuing contributions as one of our resident Ask the Therapists.
What you may not realize is that he’s also a successful author of books, most recently Confessions of a Former Child: A Therapist s Memoir (Graywolf Press, 2008), winner of the 2009 Rebecca’s Reads Written Arts Award in Creative Nonfiction.
His newest book and second memoir, American Snake Pit, was selected as a finalist for The Southampton Review’s 2016 Frank McCourt Memoir Prize and the screenplay has received over 20 awards at international film festivals since June 2017.
This week, in recognition of Mental Health Month, Amazon.com is offering Dan’s newest book for only $1.99 (for the Kindle edition) through Thursday morning, May 17, 2018. That’s a great price for a great read about what it was like to be running a group home for people with mental illness and developmental disabilites in America in the 1980s.
Read my review of the book to understand why I think it’s worth your time and consideration (and if you’re interested in purchasing a copy for yourself). I learned a lot about these homes — it opened my eyes and put to rest some of my misconceptions about such homes. It should be a must-read for any American who wants to better understand the needs of those who are at greatest risk in our society.
from World of Psychology https://psychcentral.com/blog/whats-a-group-home-like-this-first-person-account-will-open-your-eyes/
No comments:
Post a Comment