Straight Talking Introduction to the Causes of Mental Health Problems (2nd edition)

Dr John Read has worked in the UK, USA and New Zealand for 20 years as a clinical psychologist. He is currently Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of East London. He has edited several books, including Models of Madness (2013). He has been editor of the research journal Psychosis: Psychological, social and integrative approaches since 2009. John is Chair of the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal (www.iipdw.org). - Pete Sanders worked as a volunteer at 'Off The Record', Newcastle upon Tyne, in 1972 before completing a degree in psychology at the university there, and then the Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling at Aston University. He practised as a counsellor, educator and clinical supervisor for more than 30 years. He wrote, co-wrote and edited numerous books, chapters and papers on many aspects of counselling, psychotherapy and mental health, and in particular developing person-centred theory, the politics of counselling and psychotherapy, and the demedicalisation of distress.

'An accessible look at complex issues that empowers the reader to start thinking for themselves. A refreshing antidote to the simplistic and pessimistic biomedical model.' - Jacqui Dillon, activist, writer, speaker and former Chair, Hearing Voices Network. 'Brilliantly engaging, understandable and thoughtful... will equip service users, carers and professionals alike with empowering knowledge.' - Tony Morrison, Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Manchester. 'Perfect for the non-professional. Bought this book while studying level 2 counselling. It's well written and easy to understand, without all the technical jargon.' - Online reviewer. 'What causes mental health problems? Lots of things combining together. This book describes them, clearly and systematically, and how they interact.' - David Kingdon, Emeritus Professor of Mental Health Care Delivery, University of Southampton

• Series introduction - Richard Bentall and Pete Sanders, 1. Our beliefs and values, 2. A brief history of beliefs about the causes of human distress, 3. The 20th century and beyond: The illness model, 4. Do diagnoses help us understand causes?, 5. Public opinion: Depression is caused by depressing things happening, 6. What does the research say about the causes of mental health problems?, 7. Psychological theories: How events operate on us to create problems. 8. Putting things together: Formulating depression, 9. 2010-2022 and looking to the future: A call for action, Further reading and resources, Indices