Practitioner-focused, essential reading for students of mental health, this dynamic book provides a critical overview of current issues in mental health practice. It offers concrete guidance on navigating and evaluating different approaches to mental health care, giving crucial space to approaches which put the service user at the heart of care provision and recovery. Tackling the complex and challenging, Understanding Mental Health: guides students through the landscape of mental health care through detailed case studies that situate practice and bring theory to life provides a thorough introduction to critical issues through sign-posted chapter aims, concept summaries and activities.