Mental Patient: Psychiatric Ethics from a Patient’s Perspective

“If you want to understand what one person’s experience of living with severe mental illness is like—in particular, psychosis—read this book. Gosselin describes the fear and the attraction that psychosis held for her and how hospitalization compares to other forms of treatment she has experienced.  This discussion is set in the context of mainstream philosophical discourse of rationality, the will, choices, meaning-making, and autonomy and agency. Her approach of combining the philosophical with the psychiatric sheds light on some possible trajectories of psychosis in everyday and long-term living. Gosselin articulates the invaluable role that mental health carers can play in guiding patients toward recovery, with specific attention to qualities of listening, fostering trusting relations, and encouraging patients to play an active part in the practice of exercising autonomy and agency. Clinicians, patients, families of those living with mental illnesses will find this book helpful and, hopefully, it will prompt others to write about their first-person experiences of severe mental illness as well.”—Nancy Nyquist Potter, Emerita Professor of Philosophy, University of Louisville“A clear-eyed and courageous account of mental illness, this book grounds the author's experience in a network of useful philosophical concepts. Insightful and moving, this is an edifying account of mental illness illuminated by analysis of autonomy, trust, empathy, and other crucial concepts.” —Havi Carel, Professor of Philosophy, University of Bristol“Mental Patient: Psychiatric Ethics from a Patient’s Perspective is a captivating book that offers important insights into experience with psychosis, how it affects and constrains epistemic and moral agency, and lays out the conditions for how the patient can regain their agency and autonomy. What makes the book original and intriguing is its skillful combination of philosophy with the first-person experience of psychosis. Offering an illuminating perspective on how illness, diagnosis, treatment, and social relationships take shape for both the person experiencing it and those around them the book not only raises important epistemic and ethical questions on the nature of psychosis but also gives practical resources to patients and their loved ones as well as clinicians in helping patients flourish. Gosselin’s book is a must read for philosophers of psychiatry, bioethicists, clinicians, and clinical trainees.” —Serife Tekin, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Medical Humanities, University of Texas at San Antonio