Routledge Towards a Mental Health System that Works: A professional guide to getting psychological help

Research has established that there are efficacious psychological therapies for most common mental disorders. In Towards a Mental Health System That Works, psychologist Michael J Scott details the reforms necessary to ensure that consumers of services receive an evidence-based treatment. This book examines: the social significance of interventions that target mental-wellbeing and psychological disorder why treatments are ‘lost in translation’ from research to routine practice steps that can be taken towards a translation that better recognises the complexity of research and ensures fidelity to an evidence-based treatment protocol the deleterious effects of current provision on clients and therapists. Towards a Mental Health System that Works is a valuable resource for therapists, mental health practitioners, Clinical Commissioning Groups and politicians, enabling them to critically evaluate service provision, distil what constitutes cost-effective evidence-based mental health practice across the whole spectrum of disorders and client populations, and chart a new direction. It also serves as a guide to consumers of mental health services, as well as their friends and family, allowing them to understand what they are likely to experience and what they can demand. Review ‘Mike Scott uncompromisingly asks the big questions and concludes the current mental health system is not fit for purpose. Crucially, many of the questions and solutions proffered are testable and act as helpful reminders of the pitfalls and challenges of service delivery. Clinicians, managers and practitioners who read this book with an open mind will experience many nudges to small as well as large service redesign. Prepare to be challenged. Readers won’t always agree with every assertion or argument. But readers will find a robust challenge to the status quo.’ - Chris Williams, Professor of Psychiatry University of Glasgow, President of the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) 'Mental health and wellbeing is vitally important for individuals, families, communities, and societies. But traditionally health services have undervalued mental health and given the lion’s share of attention and resources to physical health. This situation makes no sense since it is now widely accepted that physical health is underpinned by mental health. The Cartesian divide is a delusion which, it appears from scrutiny of his writings, even Descartes did not subscribe to. There are many ways in which mental health can be addressed. One of these is adequate provision of high quality clinical support for people who are currently suffering from mental health problems. In this interesting volume Michael Scott addresses the inadequacy of current services for the task in hand and makes a very strong case for doing something to improve the situation.' - Sarah Stewart-Brown, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Warwick 'This book is a must read for anyone with an interest in our mental health system; whether you're a service user or family member, practitioner or decision maker, this book is for you.' - Leona Smith-Kerr, person-centred counsellor About the Author Michael J Scott is a Chartered Psychologist and Chartered Scientist, and has been consultant to a number of organisations. He specialises in the assessment and treatment of patients following trauma and regularly provides workshops on the cognitive behavioural treatment of psychological disorders. Michael is the editor of a published, four-volume work on traumatic stress and the author of twelve books and numerous chapters and papers.