Why People

Die By Suicide
Author: Thomas Joiner
Publisher: Harvard
University Press to and 'being with' people in the throes of
Edition: First mental distress. Mike Maran's one-man show
Pages: 280 Did you used tobeRD Laing?, which tells the
Price: £15.95 story ofthis remarkable man's life, is delivered
ISBN:0674019016 as an affectionate eulogy for an old friend
and is underscored by David Milligan's lyrical
piano accompaniment.
For those who know little about the subject of Maran starts with an account of Laing's
suicide, Joiner's book provides an interesting funeral at Glasgow Cathedral - a farcical affair
and accessible introduction to a number of in which the cortege became caught up in the
issues surrounding the topic. It also provides Tour de France cycle race ~ before diving into
healthcare professionals and students with the his childhood and upbringing. Laing was a
opportunity to update their knowledge or to lonely child and his mother, a remote figure,
clarify their thoughts on what is an important presented him with the classic double bind:
and at times complex area. 'love me/don't love me, trust me/don't trust
The book draws on clinical and epidemiological me', which must have influenced his thinking
research as well as Joiner's own clinical experi- Did you used t o be R D Laing? about how families affect the development
ence to offer a comprehensive account of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and expression of mental ill health.
key issues surrounding suicidal behaviour. While Written and ped^ormed by Mike Moran As a newly qualified doctor in the 1950s
a large body of literature on suicide already Music by David Milligan and interested in neurosurgery, Laing became
exists, this text is worth reading because it more intrigued with the mind than the brain
offers a new theory on why people attempt For some mental health nurses a more perti- and moved into psychiatry at a time when
to kill themselves. nent question might be 'who was R D Laing?'. common treatments for psychotic illness
Joiner proposes that there are three factors But for those of us who were students in the were often crude and included the induction
common to all those who attempt suicide: the early 1970s, Laing was a legendary figure, a of coma through insulin overdose, ECT, and
feeling of being a burden on a loved one; the psychiatrist who had challenged traditional lobotomy. He realised that hospitals were
sense of isolation; and the learned ability to practice, devising his own way of listening actually driving people crazy, and began
hurt oneself. Although, as he concedes, this is a
theory that requires further research to confirm
its central ideas, it nonetheless makes interest- Overcoming Low Having said that, there is plenty of evidence that
ing reading and draws together evidence from Self-Esteem: self-help can be effective and indeed that many
a diverse range of subjects including history, OVBUCOMING
LOW SELF-t;STl:EM Self help course: people with common mental heaith problems
literature, anthropology and clinical anecdotes SM.ii iinr-corHst A 3-part programme fare just as well with self-help as they do with
to support his theory. based on cognitive a professionally qualified therapist.
Topics of note include: what do we mean behavioural Melanie Fennell is a cognitive therapist who
by suicide? (a dream for anyone introducing techniques has an international reputation and the text
students to the subject); the role of genetics, Authors: Melanie Fennell and accompanying worksheets are of the high
neurobiology and mentai disorder in suicide; and Publisher: Robinson quality that one would expect from such an
risk assessment, crisis intervention, treatment Edition: First authority. I am sure that the three books would
and prevention of suicide. Pages: Book 1-68, Book 2-134, Book 3-132 be extremely useful for people with self-esteem
While the chapters are full of interesting ideas, Price: £7 each problems, or as a resource for professionals who
well referenced and 'touch base' with most of ISBN: Book 1: 1845293924 want to learn more about CBT But I fail to see
the relevant issues surrounding the issue of Book 2:1845293932 why the publishers have divided the text, which
suicide, at times they lack sufficient depth to Book 3:1845293940 runs to about 330 pages, into three separate
give a comprehensive account of the subject volumes, each priced at £7.
matter. However, the references supplied provide This is another text in a long line of treatment The volumes have a considerable number of
more in-depth material supporting the various manuals that sets out to provide self-help using charts, which take up a large amount of space
points raised in the book. clinically-proven CBT techniques. It is also one of and many of these charts are simply copied over
I would recommend this book to all those a number that have been recommended by the a several of pages. Thus, the 330 pages are well
involved in the mental health profession and to Department of Health under the Books on Pre- padded out! At £21 for the three volumes, I am
anyone who wants to better understand why an scription Scheme, a resource that acknowledges of the opinion that the publishers have priced
estimated one million people around the world that the majority of people with common mental themselves out of the market. There are many
take their own lives each year. health problems are unlikely to get much in the similar books on sale for not much more than
way of help from the currently impoverished half of the pnce of this text and prospective buy-
Ru55el) Ashmore psychological therapy services of NHS trusts. ers would do well to shop around. In addition.

26 mental health practice October 2006 vol 10 no 2

 can and will respond to interventions that do not
listening to his patients- Laing's views were seen rely on a therapist to reinforce their efficacy.
Maran includes several as controversial, even The v\/riting is academic without being obscure,
case studies to illustrate dangerous, his legacy the argument is persuasive without being prescrip-
Laing's approach. The is still apparent today. tive and the alternative interventions outlined
belief that patients would Listening to the expe- acknowledge non-western influences without
benefit from relating to riences of service users admitting the worst excesses of a Hebden Bridge
each other in a social set- *^- is now rightly at the based yogurt-weaving mentality.
ting proved successful and heart of good practice. If you need any more convincing about the
was popular with nurses Laing made a valuable value of this book, try this simple test - imagine
but not, on the whole, contribution to the way Bart Simpson on Ritalin. Nuff said.
with other psychiatrists. we think about mental
Inthe 1960s, Laing's first ill health and its treat- Dr Alex McClimens
book. The Divided Self, ment, and his work
explored the experiences not only informed the Without You:
of people diagnosed with development of 'safe Children and young
schizophrenia; this was houses', btrt also helped peopie growing up
followed by other key to advance the service- w i t h ioss and its
texts including Knotsand user movement. effects
The Politics of Experience.
This moving play Author: Tamar Granot
In a challenge to conven-
succeeds both as an Publisher: Jessica Kingsley
tional psychiatry, he co-founded Kingsley
enthralling drama and as a tribute to the Edition: First
Hall, a therapeutic community where people
memory of a pioneer who helped shape No, of pages: 240
with schizophrenia could work through their
21st-century mental health care. Price: £17.95
'madness' together, in London's East End.
Did you used to beRD La/ng? written and ISBN; 184310 297 8
Laing's last years were less positive. He drank performed by Mike Maran, with music by
to excess and after an investigation by the David Milligan, was at the Edinburgh Fringe The author worked as national head of psycho-
General Medical Council into an allegation Festival. Further information is available at logical services in the Israeli Ministry of Defence
of assault brought against him, later resigned wvvw.mikemaran.com for 2 5 years and has an interest in bereavement
I from practice. He died in 1989, aged 61. and adjustment to loss, in both adults and
'5 Although during his lifetime many of Lesley Warner children. Her accounts of the emotional and
cognitive development of children at different
ages, as well as the way in which she describes
these books are now in competition with some I liked this book. I realise that this is in itself not the impact of parental loss, suggest someone
excellent computer-based programmes, the best much of a recommendation, but let me try to with a thorough grounding in post-Freudian
ofwhich is Moodgym (vwwv.moodgym.anu.edu), persuade you that it should at least be on your psychodynamic theory.
an internet based programme developed and library shelf. Having it there might make you This book is lucidly written and deceptively
funded by the Australian government, which more inclined to read it because, well, at £17.99, simple in style, succeeding in its stated aim of
has the major advantage of being completely you might feel there are other things you could avoiding 'an academic or theoretical approach,
free of charge. Moodgym also has the support to spend your money on. in the interest of making the subject matter
of two substantial research trials, sen/ing as a I enjoyed this book because the author lines accessible to all'. There is a short glossary of
testament to its efficacy. up some very sacred cows for criticism. The some of the professional concepts used, a list
In conclusion, I have mixed feelings about main targets here are ADHD, western culture, of recommendations for further reading and a
this text. On the one hand, it is a well-written capitalism, drug companies, the pharmaceutical very comprehensive index, making it a useful
resource, based on good evidence and written industry, behavioural genetics and some aspects reference book.
by a respected authority; on the other hand, it of the medical/psychiatric profession. These days it is rare for children to lose a
is expensive and will struggle to compete with T>ie target audience would appear to be those parent through death. It is more common to
a number of other books on the market. with a professional interest in child psychiatry. lose a parent through divorce, separation or
That said, anyone who is a parent or whose life addiction and this book addresses the impact
Professor Kevin Gournay and/or work involves contact with children and of loss through all these causes. As I read, I
adolescents will find much to reflect on. found myself thinking of a close friend whose
Naughty Boys Essentially, the author tries to unlock the husband died when her oldest child was nearly
Author: Sami Timimi nature/nurture debate and he succeeds in this 11 and her youngest almost four. I found what
Publisher; Palgrave Macmiilan by introducing a third element - culture. The Gramot had to say relevant and thought-pro-
Edition: First argument, in summary, is that as a society we voking. I especially liked the way in which she
Pages: 256 get the children we deserve, and with carefully draws attention to the fact that the experience
Price: £17.99 chosen examples from various situations, we are of loss is never 'finished', but that life offers
ISBN: 1403945nX shown that things simply don't have to be this the opportunity and the necessity of working
way Younger children, and boys in particular. through repeatedly what that loss has meant

October 2006 vo! 10 no 2 mental health practice 27