Helping Someone with Mental Illness

by Rosalynn Carter, Susan K. Golant

The first thing you need to know is that life isn't over. "The good news," writes Mrs. Carter in Helping Someone with Mental Illness , "is that with proper diagnosis and treatment, the overwhelming majority of people with mental illness can now lead productive lives." Based on Mrs. Carter's twenty-five years of advocacy and the latest data from the Rosalynn Carter Symposia for Mental Illness, her book offers step-by-step information on what to do after the seeking the best treatment; evaluating health-care providers; managing workplace, financial, and legal matters.
      
Mrs. Carter addresses the latest breakthroughs in understanding, research, and treatment of schizophrenia, depression, manic depression, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other mental disorders. She also discusses the emotional and psychological issues in caregiving for people with mental illness and offers concrete suggestions to help erase the prejudice and discrimination based on misinformation about mental illness. Her book is also a rich clearinghouse that guides readers to hundreds of specialized resources, including organizations, hot lines, newsletters, videos, books, websites, and more.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Mental Health, Health

368 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1998

About the author

Eleanor Rosalynn Smith Carter was the wife of former United States President Jimmy Carter and was First Lady of the United States from 1977 to 1981.

Reviews

[Jennifer]

Helping Someone With Mental Illness by Rosalynn Carter is a well thought out and thorough book on mental illness. Considering the broad range of mental illnesses and the ever changing world of pharmaceuticals, I truly think Carter does a remarkable job helping the reader understand the complexities of helping someone with a mental illness and highly recommend Helping Someone with Mental Illness.

[Janice]

My first presidential vote went to Jimmy Carter. Prior to reading Helping Someone With A Mental Illness: A Compassionate Guide For Family, Friends, and Caregivers, I knew little of Rosalynn Carter, other than she is Mr. Carter's wife. I learned more about Mrs. Carter's commendable support and activism for mental health while reading this book than about helping someone with mental illness. Granted, the book was published in 1998, with dated resources; I think more helpful resources are available. Nevertheless, interest in Rosalynn Carter has been piqued, and I will look for a good biography.

[Marty]

Although written 20 years ago - the information is still timely and ever so important! Read it because it was in my collection of books on that topic, and I am trying to read as many as I can and then donate them to NAMI Sarasota County, an important and very necessary organization for which i am honored to serve on the Board of Directors.

[Angela]

I've been reading a lot about schizophrenia, and this one helped be understand a possible prognosis for the conditon.

[Grandma Sue]

Excellent for understanding mental illnesses, but out-of-date on pharmaceutical treatment. A must-read for people new to the topic.

[Cathleen Kealey]

Inspiring history and vision for mental health in America. Love. Legacy.

[Tim Wester]

Good stuff

[Aistė]

Buvo įdomių vietų, bet sakyčiau, kad knyga labiau naudinga žmonėms, turintiems šeimos narį ar pažįstamą su psichikos liga. Psichikos sveikatos specialistams iš jos nedaug naudos. Be to, didžioji dalis knygos neaktuali Lietuvai, nes aiškina apie Amerikos sveikatos priežiūros sistemą (kuri, kaip šiandien sužinojau, dar vis tebėra tragiška).