• A fascinating and humane account of mental illness and discrimination, written by a leading figure in mental health
• Provides personal accounts by people with mental illness, giving the reader a real insight into the nature of the problem
• Thoroughly reviews the literature for those seeking background information into stigma - a much neglected issue in relation to mental illness
• Sets out a clear, hard hitting analysis and action plan for tackling this problem

Readership: Students: of psychiatry, nursing, social work, occupational therapy, medicine, psychology, general/family practice, police, housing/social care, sociology, journalism and health service management, as a set text to introduce them to the reality of the experiences of people diagnosed as having mental illness. Practitioners: in these fields who wish to understand the point of view of their clients, for example as a part of their Continuing Professional Development curricula. Mental health service users and their family members and other carers.

Graham Thornicroft, Head, Health Service Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London and Consultant Psychiatrist, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust

"For those interested in mental health policy on a global perspective, this book is essential. For all of us with the nagging sense that life for our patients is even harder than it needs to be, this book provides ample evidence that our suspicions are both shared and justified. In the end, Shunned is a politcally thoughtful and measured call to arms. The time is now." - Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

"...an important contribution to the literature in an area of concern that is likely to receive increasing attention. s"

"Once a person is labelled a mentally ill, their decision-making ability is called into question and protests against treatments are either discredited or labelled as one more symptom of mental illness. ... The solution is not seen as lessening stigma but as ensuring people labelled as mentally ill retain the right as citizens to challenge the label and their treatment as well as the right to retain basic control over their lives Perhaps from this recognition, a civil rights movement may grow, dedicated to the liberation of people with mental illness from being marginalised, from being excluded and from being shunned." - BMA Medical Book Competition 2007

"...an excellent text that should be pat of required reading for all social and health care professionals. Shunned is overflowing with research, quotes, and other material that make it an invaluable resource to have on the bookshelf." - British Journal of Social Work

"...one of the most wide-ranging examinations of stigma in print...Gathering together personal stories with published evidence from every continent about people's experience of discrimination, Thornicroft builds a three-dimensional picture of the impact of ignorance, prejudice and discrimination on every aspect of the daily lives of people with mental health problems." - Mental Health Today

"Anyone treating people with psychiatric conditions should read this book to provide a greater understanding of the challeneges those with mental illness face day after day." - Doody's Notes

Foreword by Judi Chamberlin
1: Close to home: family, housing and neighbours
2: Getting personal: friendships, intimate relationships and childcare
3: It's not working: discrimination and employment
4: By a process of exclusion: discrimination in civil and social life
5: Harmful helpers: discrimination in health and social care
6: Profiting from prejudice: mental illness in the media
7: Danger or disinformation: the facts about violence and mental illness
8: 'Why try?' Self-stigmatisation, avoidance and withdrawal
9: From stigma to ignorance, prejudice and discrimination
10: What works to reduce discrimination? Challenges for service users
11: What works to reduce discrimination? Challenges for everyone