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From the frontlines of the fight for dignity and appropriate treatment for those struggling with mental health challenges, John Deadman, Sam Sussman, and David Streiner offer a social history of mental illness in Canada and the world that is rich in research, personal experience, scientific knowledge, and challenging truths. Reaching back to ancient times, the authors trace the story of mental health treatment and connect past events to the eventual policy of deinstitutionalization in Canada.
As eyewitnesses to the painful fallout of deinstitutionalization, the authors are well-positioned to describe the results of this policy, particularly for the severely mentally ill: incarceration, homelessness, and helplessness. The shocking visibility of these challenges has led to calls for action, but major social institutions, such as government and religious organizations, have been unable to provide lasting solutions.
Invisible Insanity: A Social History of Mental Illness in Canada and the World will appeal to mental health professionals, those who suffer from mental illness, family and friends of those who suffer, and members of society as a whole. It's an issue that touches all of us in some way, and the authors will inspire readers to advocate for comprehensive care that meets the needs of patients and treats them with the dignity and professionalism they deserve.
About the author
Lead author John Deadman is a retired psychiatrist who was Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He is a Distinguished Fellow of both the Canadian and American Psychiatric Associations. His other publications include Standards and Guidelines for the Psychotherapies and Moving out of the Shadows: A History of Forensic Psychiatry in Hamilton. He has wide research interests with numerous peer reviewed presentations. He has supervised students at McMaster University for many years prior to his retirement a few years ago.
Author Sam Sussman had a long career in social work. He received a BA at Concordia University, an MSW at the University of Manitoba, a Diploma in public administration at the University of Western Ontario and a PhD at Loughborough University UK in social sciences. His PhD thesis was used in two chapters of the book. He was Director of social work at several hospitals in Ontario. He has several publications and numerous articles. He made numerous presentations at International meetings, many of them with author John Deadman. He is now retired and living in Vancouver.
Author David Streiner, a psychologist, teacher and supervisor at McMaster University, is a professor at the University of Toronto and at McMaster University and has several other appointments including Fellow of the American Psychological Association. He has taught many courses and has a long list of research publications with numerous citations. In retirement, he continues his work at McMaster.
All three authors are experienced professionals in their fields and have influence with many groups that support the mentally ill, such as NAMI, the Canadian Mental Health Association, and writers and journalists who specialize in mental health issues.
