This book provides a much-needed view on the political nature of mental health and raises an argument that is validating to many who are suffering under the seemingly impossible demands of neoliberalism. It provides a historic view of how the rise of Thatcherism and the current futile approach to treating mental health problems became intertwined. I would give it 5 stars if it weren't for the shocking medical inaccuracies in certain chapters, the most blatant of which is labelling thalidomide as an antidepressant and using it to induce fear of antidepressants.
Thalidomide is an anti-emetic, and although its approval and widespread distribution raise questions regarding the safety checks pharmaceutical companies carry out on their drugs, it has nothing to do with how safe antidepressants are and labelling it as an antidepressant is damaging to many who benefit from these drugs. The only point it serves is to baselessly further the author's argument while misguiding readers.
This brings me to my second point: it is true that antidepressants are not nearly as effective as we need them to be, but to some, they are life-changing. An individualised approach to treating mental health problems, whether involving drugs or different types of therapy, is a better solution than completely doing away with them, as the author suggests.