Sedated: How Modern Capitalism Created our Mental Health Crisis by James Davies

Sedated: How Modern Capitalism Created our Mental Health Crisis is written by Dr James Davies. It is presented as a non-fiction examination of mental illness and how it is understood in western society.

Key details

• Author: Dr James Davies
• Explores how western society is portrayed as misunderstanding and mistreating mental illness
• References studies, expert interviews and detailed analysis
• Discusses psychiatric drug use in Britain and changes since 1980
• Examines the promotion of an individualistic medical model by governments and big business

Synopsis

Sedated takes a critical look at how mental illness is framed and treated, arguing that prevailing approaches have led to serious misunderstandings. It notes that in Britain more than 20% of adults take a psychiatric drug in any given year, representing an increase of over 500% since 1980, while levels of mental illness are described as rising in both number and severity.

Drawing on studies, interviews with experts and analysis, Dr Davies argues that much mental distress should be seen as a response to wider societal problems, rather than being located solely within the individual and their brain. The book also examines why this perspective has been promoted by successive governments and big business, and sets out why the author considers it misplaced and dangerous.