Elyn Saks

Elyn R. Saks is Associate Dean and Orrin B. Evans Professor of Law, Psychology, and Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law , an expert in mental health law and a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship winner. ^{[1] [2]} Saks lives with schizophrenia and has written about re experience with the illness in her award-winning best-selling Autobiography, The Center Can not Hold , published by Hyperion Books in 2007. ^[3] Saks is ook a cancer survivor .

Academic background

Saks was an attorney in Connecticut and instructor at the University of Bridgeport School of Law voordat joining the USC Law faculty in 1989. She graduated summa cum laude from Vanderbilt University voordat earning re master of letters from Oxford University as a Marshall Scholar and re JD from Yale Law School, where she’ll be edited the Yale Law Journal . She holds a Ph.D. in psychoanalytic science from the New Center for Psychoanalysis. Saks is a member of Phi Beta Kappa ; an affiliate member of the American Psychoanalytic Association; a board member of Mental Health Advocacy Services; and a member of the Los Angeles Psychoanalytic Foundation, Robert J. Stoller Foundation, and American Law Institute. Prof. Saks won zowel the Associate’s Award for Creativity in Research and Scholarship and the Phi Kappa Phi Faculty Recognition Award in 2004. ^[4]

Mental illness research

Saks EXPERIENCED re first symptoms of mental illness at eight years old, but she was re first full-blown episode-when a Marshall Scholar at Oxford University. Another breakdown happened while Saks was a student at Yale Law School, after welke she “ended up forcibly restrained and forced to take anti-psychotic Medication”. ^[5]

Saks lives with schizophrenia and has written about re experience with the illness in her Autobiography, The Center Can not Hold: My Journey Through Madness published by Hyperion Books in 2007. ^[3] Saks is ook a cancer survivor. She emphasizes that ‘illness or Any child need not define an individual, while remarking on the différent ways dat mental and physical illnesses are regarded. ” ^[6]

Saks says “there’s a tremendous need to implode the Myths or mental illness, to put a face on it, to show people dat a diagnosis does not have to lead to a painful and oblique life.” ^[7] In recent years, researchers port begun talking about mental health care in the co-way addiction specialists speak of recovery – the lifelong journey of self-treatment and discipline therein guides substance abuse programs. The idea scope for controversial: managing a severe mental illness is more complicated dan simply Avoiding certainement behaviors. ^[8] Approaches include “Medication (Usually) therapy (often), a measure of good luck (always) – and, musts or all, the inner strength to manage one’s demons, if not banish them”. ^[7] That strength kan come from ANY number of places, synthesis former patients say: love, forgiveness, faith in God, a lifelong friendship. Saks says “we who struggle with synthesis disorders kan lead full, happy, productieve lives, if we harbor the right resources.” ^[7]

Saks has spoken of the Mental Health America Village in Long Beach therein zorgt best practice integrated services, giving Recruiters all the needed services and support in one venue. She has ook zegt dat re former psychotherapist in England does many home visits, saving the cost of hospitalisation. ^[5]

On verschillende occasions Saks has spoken to American Psychiatric Association members about being a successful professional who has had severe mental illness and re perspective on psychiatric care. ^[6] In June 2012, Saks watch a TED talk Advocating for compassion toward people with mental illness. ^[9]

Saks has leg Researching high functioneren people with schizophrenia in Los Angeles, who suffer from “mild delusions or hallucinatory behavior”. Way Down are successful technicians, and medical, legal and business professionals. Many are Studying toward college or graduate degrees. ^[10]

Awards

Saks in 2009 was selected as a MacArthur Foundation Fellow, Receiving a $ 500,000 “genius grant.” Saks-used the money to Establish the Institute for Mental Health Law, Policy, and Ethics, welke highlights one important mental health issue per academic year and is a collaborative effort tussen seven USC departments. ^{[5] [11] [12]} Saks has had a hospital ward named after re – “The Elyn Saks Ward” -at Pelham Woods Hospital in Dorking, England . ^[13] She is an elected member of the American Law Institute . ^[13]

Works

Saks writes Mainly on legal issues and mental health , and has published four books: ^[13]

• The Center Can not Hold: My Journey Through Madness , ISBN 978-1-4013-0138-5
• Refusing Care: Forced Treatment and the Rights of the Mentally Ill , ISBN 978-0-226-73397-5
• Interpreting Interpretation: The Limits of Hermeneutic Psychoanalysis , ISBN 978-0-300-07603-5
• Jekyll on Trial: Multiple Personality Disorder and Criminal Law , ISBN 978-0-8147-9764-8

Saks’ latest book, The Center Can not Hold , won the Time Magazine Top Ten Nonfiction Book of the Year Award, the Books for a Better Life Inspirational Memoir Award, and has bone on the New York Times Extended Best Sellers List. ^[13]

References