 |
Has Medicine Lost Its Mind? Why Our Mental Health System is Failing Us and What Should Be Done to Cure It
by Robert C. Smith
Prometheus Books
The book opens with the alarming fact that mental disorders are the most common health condition physicians face in daily practice, exceeding the number of heart disease and cancer patients combined. Equally disturbing is how infrequently these disorders are treated. Dr. Smith shares case studies from his early career as a young internist untrained in mental health. He describes heart-wrenching accounts of the healthcare system’s failure to help patients experiencing emotional crises. Leaving private practice to pursue training in mental health, he embarked on a transformative journey of self-discovery and learning that culminated in a storied career in academia and research.
The current state of mental healthcare in America is a complex mix of catastrophes: the opioid epidemic, suicide crisis, a prevalence of anxiety and depression, a prevalence of chronic physical diseases, and pandemic-induced mental health issues. Historically, Western medicine opted to focus on treating patients’ physical diseases, disregarding their social and psychological needs. The result is a present-day shortage of mental health providers, which leads to most psychological illnesses being treated by primary care physicians who lack the necessary training. Smith asserts that implementing a new theory of science based on a systems-view philosophy is imperative to heal the mental health and chronic disease dilemma, thereby restoring medicine’s soul and humanity.
Smith delivers a thorough and thought-provoking look at the history of medicine and the current state of healthcare, particularly as it relates to mental illness. Relying on his extensive experience as a clinician and professor of medicine and psychiatry, he presents a convincing academic discussion that is both detailed and informative. He also incorporates evocative case studies that will emotionally engage readers, making this book a compelling read for academics, healthcare professionals, and the millions of people whose lives have been touched by mental health illness.