Praise for the first edition of A Sociology of Mental Health and Illness:"I would recommend this book highly as an essential text for Mental Health Branch nursing."Philip Lister, Nurse Tutor, The Hereford & Worcestershire College of Nursing and Midwifery"Pilgrim and Rogers' text offers an excellent starting point for those wanting an overall introduction to the sociological issues, covering a wide range of perspectives. Written with undergraduates and mental health professionals in mind, it fills a huge void in the literature."Mick Carpenter, Department of Applied Social Studies, University of Warwick"Given the introductory intention of the authors, this book will provide a more than useful starting point for the target audience. People already working or intending to work in the area of mental health and mental illness should read it."Lawrence Whyte, Health MattersThe revised edition of this best-selling book provides a clear overview of the major aspects of the sociology of mental health and illness. As well as drawing upon a range of social theories and methods to illustrate its points, it provides the reader with information which is organized along dimensions of class, gender, race and age. The mental health professions are critically analysed and long standing debates about the role of legalism explored. Organizational aspects of psychiatry are examined as well as the growing relevance of community mental health work. The book ends with a discussion of the various ways in which psychiatric patients and their relatives can be understood in their social context.