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By Abigail Freeman.
Aspen
£9.99
ISBN 0 9513660 5 X

This is the latest addition to the growing body of literature featuring personal accounts of mental disorder and recovery. It is a detailed and engaging account of the author's own experiences despite being written in the third person.

It is more in the style of a novel than other such books and some will find this makes it more accessible. The reader is taken through the minutiae and important detail of daily exchanges. Conversations between key characters form a significant part of the book.

The author now practises mental health advocacy under her own name and the lack of effective advocacy for those engaged with mental health services is a major message from the book.

Although the author was not compulsorily admitted under the Mental Health Act 1983 she makes it clear that she was, in effect, detained.The Bournewood case has drawn some attention to this area for certain groups and this book throws further light on the issue as it affects others. One of the messages from the personal account is to strengthen the case for a right to advocacy beyond those who are formally detained.

This book is a welcome addition to the literature.

Robert Brown is head of approved social work training programmes in Hampshire, south London and south west England. He is also a Mental Health Act Commissioner.