Narratives of Recovery from Serious Mental Illness

Introduction.-What is Recovery, and How Does it relate to Stability?.- What is Serious Mental Illness?.- Why We Need Outreach Psychiatry.- My Personal Career Trajectory.- The Pathways Model.- My View How these Patients Changed.- How these Narratives Emerged.- Confidentiality and Consent.- Reference List.- Gary N.- Pamela P.- Bernardo H.- Victoria N.- Richard G.- Maria C.- Alex A. - Seth S.- Donald M. - Carl Z. - Seema S. - Justin E.- Second Thoughts and Conclusions.- Conclusions.

William Tucker is clinical professor of psychiatry at the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. He has maintained a private practice in general psychiatry for over 40 years and has been actively engaged in teaching community psychiatry to psychiatric residents and advanced clinical interviewing to medical students in general medicine. Early in his career he was director of residency training in psychiatry at a Columbia-affiliated community hospital. Subsequently he was director of psychiatric services and thereafter chief medical officer of the NY State Office of Mental Health. Following these positions he was team psychiatrist for an ACT team in Jamaica (Queens), which was administered by a non-profit organization responsible for 500 clients throughout New York City. He has been president of the NY County District Branch of the American Psychiatric Association, and he is currently an APA Distinguished Life Fellow. For over 20 years he has served as associate editor of Psychiatric Quarterly, and he is a reviewer for Psychiatric Services, Academic Psychiatry, and Community Mental Health Journal. He has contributed to the professional literature on psychiatric education, the implementation and use of telemedicine, the use of technology for follow-up of people with schizophrenia, homelessness, psychopharmacology, psychological trauma, and the process of change in medical and psychiatric patients as they take charge of their disabilities.

"Although written primarily for psychiatrists, this book may also prove useful and inspirational for patients with mental illness, trainees in the field, psychologists, case managers, social workers, family members of those with significant psychiatric problems, and anyone else whose life is intertwined with those who have severe mental illness. ... It is well written and well worth reading by any clinician -- rookie, novice, or seasoned provider." (Steven T. Herron, Doody's Book Reviews, September, 2016)