The information on this page is not intended to be comprehensive. These are the resources and works that I came across which helped me significantly.
Some of these resources may be considered “anti-psychiatry.” Many other resources are or were psychiatrists themselves who disagree with the theory and focus that mental distress is caused by biological and chemical imbalance in the individual. Some recognize that mental and emotional distress can arise from many other factors, including social dynamics, prolonged stress, and trauma.
This page will change as I add more material to this site with additional specific information.
Downloadable Papers
Handout: Why the Current Mental Health Model Must Evolve
Psychology with Spiritual and Mystical Resources
Since my experience was rather spiritual, I was fortunate to find resources who recognize(d) that experiences such as mine have the potential to be transformational and ultimately beneficial. This was contrary to what I initially was told while going through the most difficult parts of my crisis.
- Stanislav Grof, Czech psychiatrist
- John Weir Perry, US psychiatrist
- David Lukoff, US PhD psychologist
- Tim Read, UK psychiatrist
- M. Scott Peck, US psychiatrist
- Joseph Campbell, US professor
- Carl Jung, Swiss psychiatrist
- Crazywise file by Phil Borges, US documentary filmmaker
Resources Calling for Reform
In addition to the resources above, numerous people both internal and external to the mental health system are calling for change and reform. The resources below have been quite helpful to not just me, but also to many others in helping to define the need for change. Some efforts provide additional tools and models for care.
- Mad in America
- A Disorder for Everyone
- Power Threat Meaning Framework
- Bruce Levine, US PhD clinical psychologist
Books
- Anatomy of an Epidemic by Robert Whitaker, American Author
- Cracked: Why Psychiatry is Doing More Harm Than Good by James Davies, UK PhD in social anthropology
- They Say You’re Crazy: How the World’s Most Powerful Psychiatrists Decide Who’s Normal by Paula Caplan, American PhD clinical and research psychologist
- Warning: Psychiatry May Be Hazardous to Your Health by William Glasser, American psychiatrist
Additional Resources
- Stephen Porges, US psychiatrist who developed the Polyvagal Theory related to nervous system function
- Peter Levine, US clinical psychologist who developed Somatic Experiencing for trauma healing
- Bessel van der Kolk, Dutch psychiatrist, author of The Body Keeps the Score