I first became acquainted with Dr. Gottlieb Guntern's work at several scientific symposia and was impressed by the way he combined originality and imagination with the proper use of careful, multidisciplinary epidemiologic approaches. Dr. Guntern has attacked some of the cardinal aspects of the consequences, in terms of health, well.being. and social function, of rapid social change in an originally isolated rural community - a phenomenon that is occurring at an accelerating rate in developing, as well as in developed, countries. This worldwide problem is approached by Dr. Guntern in a holistic manner. Health and social function are seen as integrated elements of human existence and are studied accordingly. His analysis of social events and their consequences for health and well being in a small Alpine village can serve as a paradigm for the study of the process of social change and its various consequences elsewhere. In view of the problem's importance and being impressed by the thoroughness and ingenuity of Dr. Guntern's multifaceted approach, I encouraged him to make the study available to an international readership. Dr. Guntern's book is warmly recommended not only to epidemiologists, sociologists, anthropologists, and psychiatrists, but also to all those interested in psychosocial and psychosocially induced problems in today's and tomorrow's environments. Lennard Levi, M.D.

The AJN Book of the Year award-winning textbook, Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice, is now in its thoroughly revised, updated Fourth Edition. Based on the biopsychosocial model of psychiatric nursing, this text provides thorough coverage of mental health promotion, assessment, and interventions in adults, families, children, adolescents, and older adults. Features include psychoeducation checklists, therapeutic dialogues, NCLEX® notes, vignettes of famous people with mental disorders, and illustrations showing the interrelationship of the biologic, psychologic, and social domains of mental health and illness. This edition reintroduces the important chapter on sleep disorders and includes a new chapter on forensic psychiatry. A bound-in CD-ROM and companion Website offer numerous student and instructor resources, including Clinical Simulations and questions about movies involving mental disorders.

The discipline of social policy, oftentimes deemed a part of social work as a profession, was born in the West. Unlike social policy that started with the post-war idea of a welfare state in the mid-20th century, social work traces its roots to individual casework pioneered by the Charity Organization Society (COS), early social administration including state-wide poverty relief (an advocacy effort of the COS but with deep roots in the English Poor Laws of the 17th century), and social action emphasizing political activities to improve social conditions (originating from the Settlement House Movement which began in the 1880s). The development of social work is historically intertwined with that of public welfare, philanthropy, and charity and is an inherently international subject. This conception is broader than “international social work” as a discrete field of professional practice, which crosses geopolitical borders and all levels of social and economic organizations with a focus on development. However, each nation has a story of its own in terms of professionalization of social work in the evolution of public welfare and philanthropic/charitable undertaking within its particular economic, political, social, and cultural settings. A wide-ranging and in-depth study of various (especially non-Western) country cases is essential to an adequate, comprehensive understanding of the social work profession, which is also a basic requirement of its value of diversity. China is undoubtedly an important case with the largest population on earth. It’s also unique in view of so-called Chinese characteristics which are sometimes fundamentally different from other (particularly Western) societies. It’s even intriguing given the country’s lengthy, complex history and its recent, rapid rise to a global superpower with a claim of national goals and core values that seem to be rather considerable to social work as a helping profession. Therefore, any significant lessons learned from the Chinese experiences would help with a better international understanding and further advancement of social work and public welfare at a global scale.

The Second Edition of Social Policy and Social Change is a timely examination of the field, unique in its inclusion of both a historical analysis of problems and policy and an exploration of how capitalism and the market economy have contributed to them. The New Edition of this seminal text examines issues of discrimination, health care, housing, income, and child welfare and considers the policies that strive to improve them. With a focus on how domestic social policies can be transformed to promote social justice for all groups, Jimenez et al. consider the impact of globalization in the United States while addressing developing concerns now emerging in the global village.

A timely examination of social policy through a social constructivist and economic lens, Social Policy and Social Change illuminates the root causes of common social problems and how policy has attempted to ameliorate them. In so doing, the book focuses on how social policies in the United States can be transformed to promote social justice for all groups. The book uniquely offers both an historical analysis of social problems and social policies, and an economic analysis of how capitalism and the market economy have contributed to social problems and impacted social policies. The book goes beyond the U.S. borders to examine the impact of globalization in the United States and in the Global South. It considers the meaning and impact of the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States and explores the policy solutions his administration has proposed to deal with the economic recession of 2008-2009. The book also discusses social workers as agents of social change and advocates of social and economic justice. It examines five key realms: Poverty in families and the welfare system, poverty among the elderly and social security, child maltreatment and child welfare policy, health and mental health policy, and housing policy. Social Policy and Social Change is a primary text for social policy/social welfare policy courses in MSW programs and possibly some higher level BSW programs. It will be supplemented with a comprehensive ancillary program, including a test bank, instructor's manual, and student website.

It is not easy for a layman to attract attention to a book like this. Most who open the cover will be professionals in one of the many aspects of mental health. A moment's thought tells us, however, that if there is a distinction between laymen and professionals it makes no difference to a book like this. Both laymen and professionals care about what will be. That is why this book, the Congress it reports and the World Federation for Mental Health itself can be meaningful to both laymen and professional people. A look into the 80's from the point of view of mental health, cultural values and social development is for all who care about the future. The 1981 Manila Congress of the World Federation for Mental Health was a unique and special gathering. It was the first time the Federation assembled for a Congress in a developing country. In the Philippines we enjoyed the over whelming hospitality and charm of the people and a place where past and future seem as important as the present. All who attended from outside those magic islands will always remember the occasion as a special life experience. For those of you who did attend, this book can revive the stimulation and satisfaction of the Congress. For those of you who did not share the Manila experience, this book can inform and interest you about matters which are important.