Book Review – Science over Stigma
Image: Science over Stigma by Len Lantz (CC BY-NC-ND)
Synopsis: Len's Star Rating: 9 out of 10. An excellent book based on facts, logic, and scientific findings for mental health clinicians and advocates in combating misinformation and educating the public to reduce harmful mental health stigma.
BY LEN LANTZ, MD / 9.15.2022; No. 94
Disclaimer: Yes, I am a physician, but I’m not your doctor and this article does not create a doctor-patient relationship. This article is for educational purposes and should not be seen as medical advice. You should consult with your physician before you rely on this information. This post also contains affiliate links. Please click this LINK for the full disclaimer.
Star Rating – 9 out of 10
Rating guide: 1 = horrible, 5 = average and 10 = wow
Author
Daniel Morehead
About the author
Daniel Morehead, MD, is a psychiatrist who speaks nationally, educating the public about mental health education. He maintained a private practice in Austin, TX, for 20 years and in 2021 became the Program Director of the psychiatry residency program at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.
General description
Science over Stigma is a book written primarily for mental health clinicians and advocates to gain effective approaches and talking points based on reason and science as they work to combat misinformation and mental health stigma. Each chapter includes detailed explanations of the chapter topic as well as sections on Important Points, Advice for Advocacy, and an extensive list of research references supporting the author’s perspective. Dr. Morehead delivers accurate and persuasive information on what his chapter titles promise:
What Is Mental Illness?
Mental Illness Is Common
Is Mental Illness a Myth?
Mental Illness Is Real
Mental Illness Is Serious
Mental Illness Is Nobody’s Fault
Mental Illness Is Treatable
Mental Illness Is Our Teacher
Unique and most important aspects
Science over Stigma is a very important book because there are numerous books that provide inaccurate information about mental illnesses and psychiatric treatments and few books written to defend the science and research showing that mental health treatments are clearly effective. In Science over Stigma, Dr. Morehead equips people with readily accessible information to combat the vast array of misinformation about mental illness and its treatments and clinicians. In the US, 97% of people believe that mental illness is real and 86%-95% of people believe that mental illness is treatable, so why don’t we act that way? The reason is stigma. The author maintains that educating and advocating for others is the way forward in reducing mental health stigma, which blocks people from effective treatments and leads unnecessarily to death, disability, and decline.
Science over Stigma delivers on its subtitle, Education and Advocacy for Mental Health. Each chapter starts by outlining a half-truth that is present in society and repeated by the media, maintained as a common myth, and perpetuated by the antipsychiatry movement in the US and Europe. The author then counters each half-truth with a “whole truth,” which he then supports with basic facts, scientific research, and logic. Important features of this book include:
Accurately framing most mental illnesses as chronic rather than acute
Demonstrating similar treatment outcomes for mental illnesses versus other chronic diseases
Listing a selection of antipsychiatry books that perpetuate incorrect myths about mental illness
Describing biological processes involved in the development of mental illness
Providing a persuasive rationale why no one should be blamed for mental illness
Sharing the powerful effects of acceptance in improving mental health
Best quotes
“Of the medical professions, psychiatry is the only one in which not knowing everything equals not knowing anything.”
“There is overwhelming evidence that mental illness is real, regardless of what we still do not know about it.”
“Psychiatry now rests on an immensely sophisticated and rapidly deepening foundation of neuroscience.”
“One final note that I believe to be of substantial significance: The commonly repeated point that 1 in 5 Americans suffers mental illness every year is likely to be an understatement. This number should probably be 1 in 4.”
“I am not personally bothered by these critiques of psychiatry. True, there is an antipsychiatry movement… while we do not see an anti-nephrology movement or an anti-oncology movement.”
“Today, we know what causes mental illness. Although we do not know all the details of how each mental illness is triggered, we do know the cause of mental illness in general. And it is very simple: The cause of mental illness is genes plus stress.”
“Doctors and other medical professionals do not doubt the reality of mental illness.”
“What is the endpoint of advocacy? The endpoint is the universal and matter-of-fact recognition that mental illness is a common and treatable form of medical illness…Shame, stigma, bias, misunderstanding, minimization, and denial remain to this day. So the full intellectual, emotional and social integration of these truths will be a substantial accomplishment, one that will put an end to stigma and the second-class treatment of mental health care.”
Who would enjoy this book?
Readers who are interested in learning facts and dispelling myths regarding psychiatry and mental health treatments are likely to enjoy Science over Stigma.
Who would not enjoy this book?
Readers who are part of an antipsychiatry group are unlikely to enjoy Science over Stigma.
Conclusion
Science over Stigma is an excellent resource based on facts, logic, and scientific findings for mental health clinicians and advocates in combating misinformation and educating the public to reduce harmful mental health stigma.