Description

‘This book, which shares the poignant lived voices of the racialised experience, is a welcome contribution to the mission to heal and positively transform our mental health, physical health and well-being.’ – Dr Jacqui Dyer, health and social care consultant, Black Thrive Global Director

The Colour of Madness is a groundbreaking collection that amplifies the voices of people of colour and their experiences with mental health.

These are the voices of those who have been ignored. Updated for 2022, The Colour of Madness is a vital and timely tribute to all the lives that have been touched by medical inequalities and aims to disrupt the whitewashed narrative of mental health in the UK. A compelling collection of memoir, essays, poetry, short fiction and artwork, this book will bring solace to those who have shared similar experiences, and provide a powerful insight into the everyday impact of racism for those looking to further understand and combat this injustice.

Statistics show that people from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds in the UK have not only experienced inadequate mental health treatment in comparison to their white counterparts, but are also more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act. From micro-aggressions, inherent bias, religious/cultural influences and social stigma, people of colour are consistently fighting to be heard, believed, and offered help beyond the need for ticking off diversity boxes.

The book was first published in 2018. Editors Dr Samara Linton and Rianna Walcott ended their relationship with their previous publisher in 2021 when the press was linked to a far-right group. The editors have since collaborated with a new publisher and present this revised edition complete with more contributions and powerful artwork.

Publisher Review

Invaluable -- BBC The Colour of Madness leaves my heart simultaneously aching at what Black and Brown people are forced to survive under, and full because I lost count of how many times I saw myself on these pages. -- Paula Akpan, journalist and author The Colour of Madness is a seminal body of work that centres our voices authentically and unapologetically. -- Melissa Cummings-Quarry, co-founder of Black Girls Book Club Full of beauty, pain, hope, sadness, humour, and a profound sense of power, this essential text captures the experience of mental health challenges for people of colour in their own words, through a simply stunning collection of poetry, story, and art. -- Dr Peter Olusoga, Chartered Psychologist and host of EightyPercentMental Podcast This book, which shares the poignant lived voices of the racialised experience, is a welcome contribution to the mission to heal and positively transform our mental health, physical health and well-being. -- Dr Jacqui Dyer, health and social care consultant, Black Thrive Global Director The Colour of Madness is one of those texts you can't read without a pencil to mark beautiful/relatable/heartbreaking quotes. Heading home to find my pencil. -- Serena Arthur, founder of the award-winning Onyx magazine I teach a BA module on Literature and Psychology and have been looking for a book like this for years! -- Samantha Walton, Lecturer: Bath Spa University Deeply personal and sensitive...This book should be read by all trainees and seniors. Although it might make the reader feel uncomfortable, it will help them to build inclusive therapeutic relationships with patients from all ethnic backgrounds and improve the practical accessibility of mental healthcare. -- Anna Sri, head of Geopsychiatry