Introduction

The introductory chapter of the Mental Health Care Resource Book: Concepts and Praxis for Social Workers and Mental Health Professionals sets its contextual foundation. Covering the intricacies and ambiguity around the very notion of mental health, it locates the notion of normality and melancholia through the centuries. Reiterating the inextricable link between physical and mental health, the chapter shoves on the socio-cultural determinants of mental health. Problematizing the hegemony of normative and the hierarchical as well as pervasive dominance of medicalized lexis, it dwells on the experience of epistemic injustice in the mental health care system and exclusion of the person and his/ her subjective experience. Embedding the scholarship of Mad Studies, it expounds on the scuffle against the biomedical model thereby echoing the need to highlight issues related to intersectionality across gender, race, disability, social class, culture, and generation. The chapter envisions the critical and leadership role of the social work profession in the field of mental health while acknowledging the contribution of other Psy professionals. It highlights the unique forte of social work viz. strong theoretical insights, practice skills, unique methods of working with individuals, groups and communities and how these get translated into their professional service at the grassroots. As a protuberant feature, the chapter offers a transient preview into the entire resource book, which is indeed an unambiguous annulment from the biomedical model and the related exclusive medical supremacy. It highlights the adoption of a strengths-based and emancipatory approach and integration of innovative, psychosocial, and spiritual voices/experiences by speckled mental health professionals. It illustrates the integration of an array of erudite as well as experiential reflections covered in the book while aiming to draw attention to the imperative need for the unification of academic as well as grassroots realities on the subject. Travelling through each of the three parts of the resource book, the chapter highlights how each section précises the intricate entwining of mental disorders and socio-cultural veracities while endeavouring to syndicate theoretical treatise along with the success stories as well as challenges from the field.