“Not the overly optimistic, sugar-coated perspectives often found in discussions about mental health”
Interviewer: Mr. Guttman, your influence is evident everywhere you go. Despite stating your intention isn’t to disrupt, your work clearly leaves a mark. What drives your efforts if not disruption? Are you focused on advocacy, system reform, education, public policy, or perhaps something else?
Mr. Guttman: My drive comes from the distinctiveness of my message compared to other academic works. Mental Health Affairs and my research aim for more than mere incremental improvements in clinical practice standards. It’s about the quality of writing and how it resonates with readers. My goal isn’t to dictate what people should think or read.
Interviewer: Your approach is notably different from others in the mental health and academic fields. Could you elaborate on that?
Mr. Guttman: My philosophy is rooted in realism, not the overly optimistic, sugar-coated perspectives often found in discussions about mental health disorders. My experience shapes my voice, which diverges from the so-called strengths-based, self-congratulatory narrative prevalent in the recovery discourse. I refuse to serve my readers the empty promises and opportunistic ideologies that some pass off as hope and healing.
Interviewer: Why focus on Mental Health Affairs?
Mr. Guttman: This blog responds to a human rights crisis as significant as the social dynamics and rhetoric of the Nazi party during the Holocaust. It’s crucial to acknowledge the monumental task of reforming mental health care. We must move quickly towards systemic and cultural reform to ensure universal access and integrate services. My aim is global—a final solution to the mental health crisis that insists on the highest ethical standards.
Interviewer: You mention offering your readers “this and that.” Can you specify what you provide them?
Mr. Guttman: My work offers an unflinchingly honest and analytical look at the experience of a first episode of psychosis. It’s about conveying the truth, sharing my experiences without reservation, and acknowledging my limitations and flaws. My intent is to prepare readers for life’s challenges by being transparent about my journey, even at the risk of losing some respect. It’s about arming them with knowledge and honesty.
Interviewer: You’ve talked about arming your readers with information. How does this goal align with your V-papers?
Mr. Guttman: My passion for language and advocacy drives my commitment to advancing reform swiftly. The V-papers symbolize the theoretical and practical convergence of my work, advocating for drastic measures to reform mental health care. This includes challenging existing policies and envisioning a future of hope and recovery from any ailment.
Interviewer: Considering the discord within mental health research, particularly regarding forced treatment, where do you find harmony?
Mr. Guttman: As a Jewish New Yorker with an active schizophrenia diagnosis, the topic of forced treatment and laws like Kendra’s Law in New York is deeply personal. Such legislation underlines the importance of self-care and vigilance for those with mental health conditions. The path to overcoming the mental health crisis lies in achieving universal access and integration of mental health services, without which tragedy will continue to prevail.
Author Info:
Max E. Guttman
Author
