Scan barcode
clairewilsonleeds's review against another edition
5.0
This book tied up a lot of the stuff I have been going over in my head for a while around the problems with psychiatry and drugs. Lots of stuff that I already knew/thought (which was great as I felt validated), but the focus on so-called schizophrenia gave me a new perspective on psychosis, and I thought Filer wrote with compassion and empathy in his case studies.
I'll be recommending this.
I'll be recommending this.
joe_thomas25's review against another edition
5.0
Former mental health nurse Nathan Filer is best known for his critically-acclaimed, Costa Prize-winning debut novel The Shock of the Fall, which took the world by storm in 2013. It was a sensitive, enlightening look at mental illness from the perspective of a sufferer, and so it's not a huge surprise that Filer turned to non-fiction for his follow-up. Originally published last year as Heartland, this book is based on Filer's own experiences working as a mental health nurse, and focuses specifically on the idea of schizophrenia in many forms.
Previous books I've read in this area have been more wide-ranging studies of mental illness in general, and choosing to focus on schizophrenia and psychosis in particular was an interested choice, but it's hugely paid off. It's allowed Filer to build a very clever structure, telling the story of someone affected by psychosis - whether it be a young fashion journalist, a nurse or a parent - and then springboarding from their stories into a discussion of a wider issue such as the whole idea of diagnosis or the idea of stigma around mental health. I found it a very satisfying approach, providing moving personal stories with more scientific and philosophical content.
The personal stories themselves are absolutely heartbreaking, and Filer dedicates a good 20-30 pages to each, which really allows the reader to connect with the subject. In particular, the chapter where Filer interviews a mother who lost her son to suicide after years of psychosis is devastating. Filer shares a letter than the mother wrote to her son shortly after his death, where she shares her regrets and sadness, along with happiness that he was now free. She was heartbroken that he'd died but glad that he didn't have to carry on living the life he'd been living. It's such a raw examination of grief and mental health that will stay with me for a long time.
The ruminations are interesting, though their more scientific nature renders them slightly more arduous to read. In particular I found Filer's comparison of the UK v US systems very interesting. British mental health professionals don't necessarily agree with many of the approaches taken by the US industry, but to get into US journals, you have to use US definitions and approaches, and they need to get into these journals to secure research funding or to secure prestige in the field, which then perpetuates the cycle. It's an interesting insider look at how the industry works and how such outdated ideas can be maintained.
What rings out most is the sensitivity and compassion that Filer has for those struggling with psychosis, from those he interviews to those he treated himself as a nurse. The work is bookended by a discussion of a patient he was forcibly medicating, at a doctor's orders, and the impact it had not only on the patient but on him too. He also talks about the vast variety of effectiveness that medication can have - for some patients it changes their life for the better, for others the side effects are too horrendous to ever be mitigated by the mental health benefits. Who can make the decision as to when to force this medication? Are we doing good with so much reliance on chemistry?
Perhaps the most moving part of the entire work, and what I'll take away with me, is a very short passage where Filer discusses diagnosis and labels. He says that even the phrase 'mental illness' to describe someone suffering from psychosis or schizophrenia might be the wrong approach. Mental illness is simply a brain working in a different way to most people's, but does that mean their brain is working 'wrong'? Or do they just work differently? Is terming this an 'illness' a problem in the first case? It's a fascinating philosophical question and one that I've struggled to reconcile myself.
I love medical non-fiction and analyses of mental health such as this, and even among a crowded genre I would recommend this highly as both a moving and informative look at an issue that a surprising number of us will experience in our lives.
Previous books I've read in this area have been more wide-ranging studies of mental illness in general, and choosing to focus on schizophrenia and psychosis in particular was an interested choice, but it's hugely paid off. It's allowed Filer to build a very clever structure, telling the story of someone affected by psychosis - whether it be a young fashion journalist, a nurse or a parent - and then springboarding from their stories into a discussion of a wider issue such as the whole idea of diagnosis or the idea of stigma around mental health. I found it a very satisfying approach, providing moving personal stories with more scientific and philosophical content.
The personal stories themselves are absolutely heartbreaking, and Filer dedicates a good 20-30 pages to each, which really allows the reader to connect with the subject. In particular, the chapter where Filer interviews a mother who lost her son to suicide after years of psychosis is devastating. Filer shares a letter than the mother wrote to her son shortly after his death, where she shares her regrets and sadness, along with happiness that he was now free. She was heartbroken that he'd died but glad that he didn't have to carry on living the life he'd been living. It's such a raw examination of grief and mental health that will stay with me for a long time.
The ruminations are interesting, though their more scientific nature renders them slightly more arduous to read. In particular I found Filer's comparison of the UK v US systems very interesting. British mental health professionals don't necessarily agree with many of the approaches taken by the US industry, but to get into US journals, you have to use US definitions and approaches, and they need to get into these journals to secure research funding or to secure prestige in the field, which then perpetuates the cycle. It's an interesting insider look at how the industry works and how such outdated ideas can be maintained.
What rings out most is the sensitivity and compassion that Filer has for those struggling with psychosis, from those he interviews to those he treated himself as a nurse. The work is bookended by a discussion of a patient he was forcibly medicating, at a doctor's orders, and the impact it had not only on the patient but on him too. He also talks about the vast variety of effectiveness that medication can have - for some patients it changes their life for the better, for others the side effects are too horrendous to ever be mitigated by the mental health benefits. Who can make the decision as to when to force this medication? Are we doing good with so much reliance on chemistry?
Perhaps the most moving part of the entire work, and what I'll take away with me, is a very short passage where Filer discusses diagnosis and labels. He says that even the phrase 'mental illness' to describe someone suffering from psychosis or schizophrenia might be the wrong approach. Mental illness is simply a brain working in a different way to most people's, but does that mean their brain is working 'wrong'? Or do they just work differently? Is terming this an 'illness' a problem in the first case? It's a fascinating philosophical question and one that I've struggled to reconcile myself.
I love medical non-fiction and analyses of mental health such as this, and even among a crowded genre I would recommend this highly as both a moving and informative look at an issue that a surprising number of us will experience in our lives.
maxreads74's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
lauraisbetteroffread's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favourite reads of the year. An entertaining but heartwarming look into the psychology of schizophrenia. Its impact, potential causes, and an analysis of the current diagnosis and treatment. Deeply interesting and important read.
libraryofemilyjayne's review against another edition
4.0
4.5⭐️
I was so excited to read this after reading Nathan Filer’s Shock of The Fall a few years ago - a book which I urge you all to read if you haven’t done so already.
I’ve always considered myself pretty well versed when it comes to a lot of the issues that surround society’s understanding of mental health experiences. In spite of this, however, I will always admit where my knowledge fails me and where I can educate myself further. For schizophrenia specifically, this has long been the case. Schizophrenia is undoubtedly one of the most commonly misunderstood - if not the most misunderstood - mental health conditions. It is a condition that is deemed as “one of the more scary” mental health conditions a person can experience, and it is commonly thought to make a person more dangerous, more aggressive. What Nathan Filer seeks to do throughout this book is dispel a lot of the common myths surrounding this illness and initiate a more honest and open conversation about what it means to be an individual living with and experiencing schizophrenia.
The book is made up a series of personal stories from people who have had varying experiences with schizophrenia - some have lived with the illness themselves, while others speak through their understanding of schizophrenia having seen their loved ones experience this condition. Each of these stories are deeply moving and incredibly poignant, and, ultimately, what each of these stories prove further is that no two people experience schizophrenia in the same way.
After hearing these stories, Filer then discusses the issues that are raised during these personal narratives: he discusses how rife stigma and discrimination are in today’s society and how this has implicated our understanding of schizophrenia more generally; the problematic nature of diagnosis; the hotly debated topic of medication; and what causes of schizophrenia have been identified, while admitting to their issues of determinism and simplicity.
The book reads like an extended essay, but is incredibly compassionate and perceptive. Above all though, the thing I would credit this book the most for is it’s accessibility. For those who come to this book with little or no understanding of schizophrenia will find that Filer doesn’t rely on heavy, medical language but uses his own experiences as a former mental health nurse to inform those reading this book about such a devastatingly misunderstood condition. Filer uses his humour and his personality to add real depth to this book, and it reminds us all exactly what means to be human.
I loved this book - it’s profound, it’s interesting but it’s also inspiring. Filer has written a book that is simultaneously heart-warming yet heart-breaking. There’s still a long way to go in society’s mission to understand what mental health is and the various conditions that can affect a person’s mental health, (including schizophrenia), but this book will take us all one step closer into understanding what it is like to experience mental ill-health.
I was so excited to read this after reading Nathan Filer’s Shock of The Fall a few years ago - a book which I urge you all to read if you haven’t done so already.
I’ve always considered myself pretty well versed when it comes to a lot of the issues that surround society’s understanding of mental health experiences. In spite of this, however, I will always admit where my knowledge fails me and where I can educate myself further. For schizophrenia specifically, this has long been the case. Schizophrenia is undoubtedly one of the most commonly misunderstood - if not the most misunderstood - mental health conditions. It is a condition that is deemed as “one of the more scary” mental health conditions a person can experience, and it is commonly thought to make a person more dangerous, more aggressive. What Nathan Filer seeks to do throughout this book is dispel a lot of the common myths surrounding this illness and initiate a more honest and open conversation about what it means to be an individual living with and experiencing schizophrenia.
The book is made up a series of personal stories from people who have had varying experiences with schizophrenia - some have lived with the illness themselves, while others speak through their understanding of schizophrenia having seen their loved ones experience this condition. Each of these stories are deeply moving and incredibly poignant, and, ultimately, what each of these stories prove further is that no two people experience schizophrenia in the same way.
After hearing these stories, Filer then discusses the issues that are raised during these personal narratives: he discusses how rife stigma and discrimination are in today’s society and how this has implicated our understanding of schizophrenia more generally; the problematic nature of diagnosis; the hotly debated topic of medication; and what causes of schizophrenia have been identified, while admitting to their issues of determinism and simplicity.
The book reads like an extended essay, but is incredibly compassionate and perceptive. Above all though, the thing I would credit this book the most for is it’s accessibility. For those who come to this book with little or no understanding of schizophrenia will find that Filer doesn’t rely on heavy, medical language but uses his own experiences as a former mental health nurse to inform those reading this book about such a devastatingly misunderstood condition. Filer uses his humour and his personality to add real depth to this book, and it reminds us all exactly what means to be human.
I loved this book - it’s profound, it’s interesting but it’s also inspiring. Filer has written a book that is simultaneously heart-warming yet heart-breaking. There’s still a long way to go in society’s mission to understand what mental health is and the various conditions that can affect a person’s mental health, (including schizophrenia), but this book will take us all one step closer into understanding what it is like to experience mental ill-health.
andintothetrees's review against another edition
5.0
An excellent book: well-written (with a little humour here and there), backs up its claims with research and covers an interesting topic. Nathan Filer is a mental health nurse and uses schizophrenia as the starting point to look at various issues within mental health and its treatment, by combining personal accounts with related discussion. It's particularly interesting that he chooses to look both at the conventional, Western view of mental health and its treatment and views more aligned with the "anti-psychiatry" movement. So there is discussion about how diagnoses are arrived at by observing symptoms and giving labels to those which tend to cluster together - it's a lot more arbitrary than diagnosing a health condition which has a clear microbial cause or can be seen on scans and such - and whether these labels mean anything beyond describing symptoms (I know some people find their diagnoses very helpful though, so I'm not taking sides here). There is analysis of schizophrenia within a wider social context and how race and poverty may affect diagnosis and the experience of mental health issues. He also explains how psychosis can feel to those experiencing it, and talks about treatment options and how anti-psychotics in particular have a lot of unwanted side effects - to the point where people who have been unwell for a long time may in fact be unwell at least partly because of their medication (though, as with diagnoses, he acknowledges that medication can have a vital role to play for some people). The only thing that was perhaps missing from this book was a look at how mental health is approached by non-Western medicine, but the author does say that he set out only to look at a Western (primarily UK based) context, so that's fair enough, though he does throw in at the end the interesting fact that people who have an episode of psychosis outwith Western healthcare systems are less likely to have a relapse of their condition.
georgeisreading's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
A poignant book that makes you rethink what you know about mental health. Written very well and easy to digest; it’s both heartbreaking and hopeful; asking important questions. I’d definitely recommend this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, and Suicide
katemeadow's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0