Elyn Saks
Elyn R. Saks is Associate Dean and Orrin B. Evans Professor of Law, Psychology, and Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at the University of Southern California Gould Law School and an expert in mental health law.[1][2]
Contents |
Biography [edit]
Saks suffers from schizophrenia and has written about her experience with the illness in her autobiography, The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness published by Hyperion Books, 2007.[3] Dr. Saks is in training as a psychoanalyst in Southern California.[citation needed]
Saks says "there's a tremendous need to implode the myths of mental illness, to put a face on it, to show people that a diagnosis does not have to lead to a painful and oblique life."[4] In recent years, researchers have begun talking about mental health care in the same way addiction specialists speak of recovery — the lifelong journey of self-treatment and discipline that guides substance abuse programs. The idea remains controversial: managing a severe mental illness is more complicated than simply avoiding certain behaviors.[5] Approaches include "medication (usually), therapy (often), a measure of good luck (always) — and, most of all, the inner strength to manage one's demons, if not banish them."[4] That strength can come from any number of places, these former patients say: love, forgiveness, faith in God, a lifelong friendship. Saks says "we who struggle with these disorders can lead full, happy, productive lives, if we have the right resources."[4]
In June 2012, Saks gave a TED talk advocating for compassion toward people with mental illness.[6]
Saks has been researching high-functioning people with schizophrenia in Los Angeles, who suffer from "mild delusions or hallucinatory behavior". They are successful technicians, and medical, legal and business professionals. Many are studying toward college or graduate degrees.[7]
Awards [edit]
Works [edit]
- The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness, ISBN 978-1-4013-0138-5
- Refusing Care: Forced Treatment and the Rights of the Mentally Ill, ISBN 978-0-226-73397-5
- Interpreting Interpretation: The Limits of Hermeneutic Psychoanalysis, ISBN 978-0-300-07603-5
- Jekyll on Trial: Multiple Personality Disorder and Criminal Law, ISBN 978-0-8147-9764-8
See also [edit]
- Robert Whitaker
- Peter Breggin
- James Gottstein
- Peter Lehmann
- Anatomy of an Epidemic
- Anti-psychiatry
- David Oaks
References [edit]
- ^ "Elyn Saks". Weblaw.usc.edu. 2010-10-01. Retrieved 2010-11-03.
- ^ "Elyn Saks, Southern California Law Professor, Wins MacArthur Genius Grant". The Faculty Lounge. 2009-09-22. Retrieved 2010-11-03.
- ^ "Schizophrenia Daily News Blog: Interviews with Elyn Saks, author of "The Center Cannot Hold,"". Schizophrenia.com. 2007-08-08. Retrieved 2010-11-03.
- ^ a b c Benedict Carey (June 23, 2011). "Expert on Mental Illness Reveals Her Own Fight". New York Times.
- ^ Benedict Carey (August 6, 2011). "Learning to Cope With a Mind's Taunting Voices". New York Times.
- ^ "Elyn Saks: A tale of mental illness -- from the inside". TED. June 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
- ^ Elyn Saks (January 25, 2013). "Successful and Schizophrenic". New York Times.
- ^ "Elyn Saks - MacArthur Foundation". Macfound.org. Retrieved 2010-11-03.
- ^ Grohol, John M (2009-09-22). "Elyn Saks Receives MacArthur Genius Grant | World of Psychology". Psychcentral.com. Retrieved 2010-11-03.
External links [edit]
- Elyn Saks at USC Gould
- Interview from National Public Radio
- Interview on The Charlie Rose Talk Show
- "Elyn Saks: A tale of mental illness from the inside" on TED - Ideas Worth Spreading.
- Successful and Schizophrenic: opinion piece in the New York Times
|
