Towards a Mental Health System that Works

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.

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.

Part One A Public Health Approach to Mental Health 1. Mental Well-Being and Stress 2. Positive Psychology 3. Overstating Preventative Capacity and Diagnostic Creep Part Two Crystallising Mental Health Problems 4. Difficulties In Deciding Whether Something Is Wrong 5. Social Support, Psychoeducation and Psychological Disorders Part Three The Quantity and Quality of Psychological Help Available 6. Availability of Psychological Therapy Services 7. The Quality of Psychological Therapy Services Part Four Realising The Potential of Psychological Therapies 8. Creating A Mental Health System Fit for Purpose 9. Maintaining the Social Significance of Psychological Therapy 10. Wounded Healers