get help
reading
There is a wide selection of books, reports and other literature on illnesses and embarrassing conditions. We list just a few below.
The 'get help' directory has details of organisations, many of which produce books or booklets that may be free or available on their websites. It is often worth contacting an organisation as a first port of call to see if it has any relevant publications.
You can find other titles by visiting your local library or bookshop or by looking at bookshop websites, such as Amazon.
general
Complete Guide to Mental Health by Elaine Farrell (Mind/Vermilion, 1997). Also obtainable from Mind Publications.
A general guide to mental health for people with problems and their friends and families. Includes information and practical advice.
Drugs Used in the Treatment of Mental Health Disorders by Stephen Bazire (Academic Publishing Services, 2000). Also obtainable from Mind Publications.
Covers frequently asked questions about how drugs work and their effects and side-effects, and explains any necessary precautions that should be taken.
Living with Mental Illness: A book for relatives and friends by Elizabeth Kuipers and Paul Bebbington (Souvenir Press, 1997)
Provides explanations and practical advice on matters such as coping day to day and in a crisis.
Serious Mental Illness - A family affair by Gwen Howe (Sheldon, 1997)
Helps friends and relatives to understand serious mental illness and gives advice on how to cope and how to get the best from the services available.
Staying Sane by Raj Persaud (Bantam Books, rev. ed. 2001)
Looks at the myths surrounding mental health and suggests ways to help people reduce their vulnerability to mental health problems.
anxiety
Anxiety, Phobias and Panic Attacks: Your questions answered by Elaine Sheehan (Element, 1996)
Information and advice on types of anxiety, treatments available and self-help strategies.
Coping with Post-Trauma Stress by Frank Parkinson (Sheldon, 2000)
A self-help book to enable those affected to understand their reactions and find strategies to cope.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: The facts by Padmal de Silva and Stanley Rachman (Oxford University Press, 1998)
Looks at the symptoms, the range of treatments and the help available for those with the disorder and their families.
Overcoming Anxiety by Helen Kennerley (Robinson, 1997)
A self-help guide using cognitive behavioural techniques to help people take charge of their own recovery.
Overcoming Panic by Derrick Silove and Vijaya Manicavasagar (Robinson, 1997)
A self-help guide using cognitive behavioural techniques to help overcome panic attacks and associated agoraphobia.
Overcoming Traumatic Stress by Claudia Hebert and Ann Wetmore (Robinson, 1999)
This book uses a series of exercises to help people rebuild their lives after traumatic stress.
Understanding Obsessions and Compulsions by Frank Tallis (Sheldon, 1992)
Explains obsessive-compulsive behaviour and suggests self-help ways to cope.
Asian women and mental health problems
A-Z of Race Issues in Mental Health by Melba Wilson (Mind Publications, 1996)
This booklet gives information and helpful organisations for people with mental health problems who are from ethnic minorities.
Between Two Cultures: Effective counselling for Asian people with mental health and addiction problems by Zaibby Shaikh and John Reading (CVS, 2000). Also obtainable from Mind Publications
Provides practical ideas from the grassroots on how the specific needs of Asian and other ethnic minority groups can be met by counselling.
'Suicide patterns and trends in people of Indian subcontinent and Caribbean origin in England and Wales' by Dr Veena Soni-Raleigh, in Ethnicity and Health 1 (1), 1996, 55-63
The primary research document in this area.
depression
Climbing Out of Depression: A practical guide for sufferers by Sue Atkinson (Lion Publishing, 1993)
Written by someone who has herself experienced years of depression, this book offers insights and suggestions on how to cope.
Coping with Anxiety and Depression by Shirley Trickett (Sheldon, 1996)
Offers explanations of symptoms of and treatment for anxiety and depression and suggestions on ways to cope.
Coping with Depression and Elation by Patrick McKeon (Sheldon, 1995)
This book explains the symptoms and treatment of manic depression and offers practical suggestions on ways to cope.
Depression by Edzard Ernst ('Help Yourself to Health' series) (Godsfield Press, 1999)
Explains the types of depression, the conventional treatments and complementary methods.
Depression by Kwame McKenzie (BMA Family Doctor Guide) (Dorling Kindersley, 2000)
A clear, concise explanation of symptoms and treatments for depression, self-help strategies for sufferers and practical advice for friends and relatives.
Overcoming Depression: A practical self-help guide to prevention and treatment by Richard Gillett (British Holistic Medical Association/Dorling Kindersley, 1987)
Helps people to understand their own depression and find ways of treating it or keeping it at bay.
So Young, So Sad, So Listen by Philip Graham and Carol Hughes (Gaskell, 1995)
This book aims to help parents recognise the signs of depression in children and understand possible causes.
post-natal depression
Post-Natal Depression: The Element guide by Erika Harvey (Element, 1999)
Clear, practical advice for women with post-natal depression and their friends and families.
Surviving Post-Natal Depression by Cara Aiken (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2000)
This book aims to help mothers, and the professionals who work with them, to understand this illness. It offers positive suggestions and practical advice, based on personal and professional experience.
schizophrenia
Healthy Living with Schizophrenia (Health Education Authority, 2000)
Also obtainable from Mind Publications .
Helps people with schizophrenia to understand their condition and situation more clearly and take greater charge of their own lives.
Living with Schizophrenia: A positive guide for sufferers by Brenda Lintner (Vermilion, rev. ed. 1996)
Gives helpful information, explains treatment and offers suggestions for coping with everyday life.
Schizophrenia: The facts by Ming T Tsuang and Stephen V Faraone (Oxford University Press, 1997)
A clear explanation of research into schizophrenia, the various treatments available and the support that families and the community can provide.
Understanding Mental Illness: Recent advances in understanding mental illness and psychotic experiences (British Psychological Society, 2000)5
Gives a clear explanation of the latest research findings and looks at the help and treatment available.
self-harm
Cutting: The risk - self-harm, self-care and risk reduction (National Self-Harm Network, 2000)0. Available from the NSHN, PO Box 16190, London NW1 3WW
The results of a conference in 1999, written by survivors and professionals, this book suggests how to reduce the risk for people who continue to self-harm.
National Self-Harm Network Information Pack (NSHN, 1998)
Also obtainable from Mind Publications.
A set of information sheets provide information on how to minimise the risk and break the spiral of self-harm.
Teenage Suicide and Self-harm by John Coleman, Juliet Lyon and Roz Piper (Trust for the Study of Adolescence, 1995)
Audiocassette and booklet that give information and advice on suicide and self-harm. Parents and teenagers also talk about their experiences.
Who's Hurting Who? Young people, self-harm and suicide by Helen Spandler (42nd Street, 1996)0
Young people speak about their self-harm and the sorts of services they need.
