ABSTRACT
This chapter explores some of the implications of the state of affairs, highlighting concerns about it and beginning the process of considering alternatives. People with mental health problems will face stigma, unhelpful stereotypes, exaggerated and distorted perceptions of the risks they pose to others, systematic discrimination, obstacles to employment, housing and other social and leisure services. Powerlessness can therefore be recognized as a significant feature of having mental health problems. The chapter focuses on not just to critique the dominant biomedical model approach to mental health problems. It also want to achieve is to provide a helpful picture of some of the various alternatives to the medical model and to explore some of the practice implications. A narrow biochemical approach has the effect of dehumanizing people by not taking account of significant factors that are instrumental in shaping their current problems and challenges.
