Living with Mental Illness: A Study in East London

The Mental Health Act of 1959 was a turning point in national policy on mental illness, and this book reports a sociological survey of a group of people from an East London borough who entered a large mental hospital in 1956 and 1957. Living with Mental Illness describes the impact of mental illness on their domestic and social circumstances, the part played by the social services, and the relationship between peoples perceptions of mental illness and their attitudes to hospital.

Format: Hardback
Length: 198 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Mental Health Act of 1959 marked a significant turning point in national policy on mental illness. Originally published in 1962, this book presents a sociological survey of a group of individuals from an East London borough who were admitted to a large mental hospital in 1956 and 1957, coinciding with the preparation of a Royal Commission report that would serve as the basis for the new legislation.

Living with Mental Illness delves into the experiences of these mental patients and their families, shedding light on their reactions and impressions. It explores the impact of mental illness on their domestic and social circumstances, as well as the role played by the social services in their lives. The book also discusses the relationship between people's perceptions of mental illness and their attitudes toward hospitals. Enid Mills examines the prospects for 'community care of the mentally ill in the borough studied and concludes, as Professor Morris Carstairs states in his Foreword, with a review of the challenges that must be overcome to transition from an outdated, remote mental hospital system to a community-based service that will be both efficient and humane.

Weight: 526g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032544939