Acceptance of Mental Illness: Promoting Recovery Among Culturally Diverse Groups

by Lauren Mizock, Zlatka Russinova

Overview

Recently there has been a growing awareness of the process of recovery from serious mental illness and the importance of coming to terms with the challenges resulting from the illness. Acceptance of one's mental illness is a critical milestone of the recovery journey, fostering empowerment, hope, and self-determination. In addition, there has been a developing interest in the role of culture in influencing the experience of mental illness, treatment, and recovery. Yet, the topic of how people with diverse cultural backgrounds come to recognize and cope with their mental illness is often overlooked in the literature. Acceptance of Mental Illness adheres to a recovery-oriented philosophy that understands recovery as not simply symptom elimination, but as the process of living a meaningful and satisfying life with mental illness. The book synthesizes research on this topic and offers extensive case histories gathered by the authors to provide readers with an understanding of the multidimensional process of acceptance of mental illness across genders, ethnicities, and sexual orientations. The aim is for clinical readers to be better equipped to support people with mental illness across culturally diverse groups to experience empowerment, mental wellness, and growth. Chapters focus on providing a historical overview of the treatment of people with mental illness, examining the acceptance process, and exploring the experience of acceptance among women, men, racial-ethnic minorities, and LGBT individuals with serious mental illnesses. The book is a useful tool for mental health educators and providers, with each chapter containing case studies, clinical strategies lists, discussion questions, experiential activities, diagrams, and worksheets that can be completed with clients, students, and peers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780197747612
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	06/08/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	264
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Lauren Mizock, PhD, is Doctoral Faculty in the Clinical Psychology PhD Program at Fielding Graduate University. Dr. Mizock is a licensed clinical psychologist in Massachusetts and California. She is also on the Executive Committee of the Society for the Psychology of Women (Division 35) of the American Psychological Association (APA). She has conducted a number of studies related to psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery, multicultural competence, and mental health practice with transgender individuals, and specializes in these areas of psychotherapy in her private practice. Dr. Mizock publishes widely in peer-reviewed journals and is the author of Researcher Race: Social Constructions in the Research Process. Zlatka Russinova, PhD, is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the Boston University Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and a Senior Research Associate at the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation. She has directed several research projects exploring diverse aspects of recovery from psychiatric disabilities, including examining the patterns and determinants of vocational recovery and successful employment, the manifestations and determinants of workplace psychiatric stigma, the efficacy of a novel photovoice intervention to reduce self-stigma, the role of spirituality and alternative therapies in recovery, and measurement of mental health practitioners' recovery-promoting competence.

Table of Contents

Introduction Chapter 1: The History of the Treatment of Mental Illness Chapter 2: Acceptance and the Recovery Paradigm in Mental Health Care Chapter 3: The Multiple Dimensions of the Acceptance of Mental Illness Chapter 4: Barriers and Facilitators to Acceptance of Mental Illness Chapter 5: The Process of Acceptance of Mental Illness Chapter 6: Acceptance of Mental Illness Among Women: Intersectional Stigma Chapter 7: Acceptance of Mental Illness Among Men: Exploring Masculinities and Mental Health Chapter 8: Racial-Ethnic Cultural Factors in the Process of Acceptance of Mental Illness Chapter 9: LGBT Factors in the Process of Acceptance of Mental Illness Chapter 10: Clinical Applications and Investigation of the Acceptance of Mental Illness Resource Appendix References About the Authors Index

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Steven T Herron, MD (CPI/Assurance Health and Wellness)
Description: Though much as been written about an individual's path during recovery from mental illness, there is paltry research about a recently identified, yet crucial step in the process — an individual's own acceptance of a mental health diagnosis. This book discusses this concept.
Purpose: The authors' purpose is "to focus on the process of acceptance for people with serious mental illness, shedding light on implications for research, training, and mental health care."
Audience: The authors identify various clinical providers as the primary audience for this work, including "clinicians, trainees, and peer specialists." It also may be useful for some patients.
Features: The first third of the book addresses some of the preliminary concepts (definitions, history, and theory) needed to understand the remainder of the work. The middle section highlights the research associated with the book's focus, and the final portion uses a more clinical approach to solidify concepts for practical implementation. Chapters contain some diagrams, tables, and charts, but also have case examples and a few example worksheets. Each chapter concludes with "Discussion Questions" and "Activities."
Assessment: Unique in its focus, this book attempts to tackle an important component in an individual's path to recovery from mental illness — their own acceptance of a diagnosis and what this means for them as they move forward in life. This work prompts clinicians to be aware of the potential benefits of shifting the clinical focus from a traditional a symptom-based approach to one that is potentially more inclusive of patients' individual needs as they relate to their own understanding and acceptance of their illness. The value of this book lies in its interesting content and novel approach.

Doody's Review Service

"Mizock and Russinova have composed a compelling illustration of the historical shift in attitudes toward mental illness. Their book is a well-written and insightful expansion of their original work with significant implications for the future of culturally sensitive treatment. Their thorough inclusivity makes this a great read for anyone involved in mental health care."
—Margarita Alegria, PhD, Director, Center for Multicultural Mental Health Research, and Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

"This text will be an effective addition to any course focused on mental health, psychiatric disability, and diversity for individuals in recovery. It is especially relevant as it includes evidence-based research and practices related to groups often neglected in these discussions, particularly sexual minorities and members of the trans- and gender-non-conforming communities."
—Lisa A. Razzano, PhD, CPRP, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Deputy Director, Center on Mental Health Services Research & Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago

"With exceptional clarity and understanding, Mizock and Russinova probe and explicate the processes, meaning, and benefits, both personally and socially, of proactive acceptance of mental illness. Their in-depth analysis sensitively explores the complexities of acceptance across gender and sexual orientations, as well as a function of race and ethnicity. This long overdue book is an invaluable contribution to the mental health field."
—Kim T. Mueser, PhD, Executive Director, Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Boston University

"[A] useful addition to the dialogue on what factors help and hinder recovery from severe mental illness. Acceptance of Mental Illness is therefore recommended for clinicians who work with individuals living with severe mental illness and are seeking ways to facilitate therapeutic discussions." — volume 61, issue 51 of PsycCRITIQUES

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