Community Psychology and the Socio-economics of Mental Distress

Carl Walker is Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Brighton, UK. His research interests in recent years include social inequality, identity and mental distress, cultural representations of mental health and experiences of employment. Katherine Johnson is Principal Lecturer in Psychology and Director of Postgraduate Studies at the University of Brighton, UK. Her research connects social, critical and community psychology perspectives with interdisciplinary gender and queer studies. Liz Cunningham is Senior Lecturer in Community Research and Practice at the University of Brighton, UK. In recent years, her key research interests have been the development of culturally appropriate psychology; the use of participatory action research (PAR); social and community development, and oral history methods.

• Introduction: Community Psychology and the Socio-economics of Mental Distress: International Perspectives; C.Walker, K.Johnson, and L.CunninghamPART I: SOCIO-ECONOMICS AND MENTAL DISTRESSIntroduction; C.WalkerSeroxat: the Corruption of Pharmacological Corporations, Health Care Professionals, Politicians and Academics; P.DuckettGambling: Government and Industry Promotion of a Dangerous Form of Consumption; J.OrfordNeoliberal Ideology and Personal Debt in the UK; C.WalkerThe Operation of a Suicidal Cohort and its Socio-economic Origins; C.Curtis and B.CurtisMental Health and Community Psychology in India; S.BhatiaPART II: PSYCHOLOGY, IDEOLOGY AND MODES OF INTERVENTIONSIntroduction; K.JohnsonSocial Integration, Violence and Mental Health in Columbia; C.QuenzaSupporting Global Mental Health: Critical Community Psychology as a Potential Panacea?; R.BurgessDeveloping a Cambodian Psychology; L.Cunningham, N.Hema, S.Sovandara, K.Sareth, P.Peou, K.Hourn and S.HourCommunities and Professional Identities: South African Women Students' Accounts of Applied Psychology Training; J.CallaghanCommunity Psychology as a Globalised Commodity? A South African Perspective; R.CarolissenPART III: INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL CHANGE PROJECTSIntroduction; L.CunninghamCharting a Path From Data to Action: A Culturally Sensitive Intervention for Adolescent Self-Harm in Sri Lanka; J.MarecekHousing for People with Lived Experience of Mental Health Issues: Housing First as a Strategy to Improve Quality of Life; G.Nelson, P.Goering and S.TsemberisDeveloping a Tenant Organisation as a Resource in Supported Housing; B.Kloos, K.Scrimenti, N.Masson, S.Zimmerman, B.Davis, and D.SnowThe Clubhouse Model and Community Psychology; S.PhillipsLiberation of the Social Consciousness through Alternative Learning and Action Research: Work in Progress with the Aytas of the Philippines; E.Estacio and D.MarksArt, Social Action and Social Change; M.MurrayConclusionGlobal Mental Health, Cultural Specificity and the Risk of Neo-colonialism: Challenges for Critical Community Psychology; K.Johnson.

"This is a must read for anyone concerned with the state of the world and quality of life. It is a call for action for mental health advocates worldwide. Read it and improve your ability to challenge the status quo. Pass it along and contribute to much needed action for mental health." - Isaac Prilleltensky, Dean, School of Education, and Erwin and Barbara Mautner Chair in Community Well-Being, University of Miami, USA "This book should be essential reading for all who are interested in the root causes of mental distress whether from personal, service or societal perspectives. The editors are to be congratulated for assembling chapters written from different parts of the world tackling issues that other analyses don't reach, particularly relating to socio-economic trends and globalisation - authentic community psychology at its best." - Carolyn Kagan, Professor of Community Social Psychology and Director of the research Institute for Health and Social Change, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK