The imaginary patient: honouring the complexity of mental illness in fiction

Filer, N (2024) 'The imaginary patient: honouring the complexity of mental illness in fiction.' Writing in Practice, 10. pp. 53-66.

Abstract

This essay reflects on my efforts to write fiction honouring the unyielding complexity of mental illness. It draws on my experience working in healthcare, considers seminal works of literature (most notably 'The Catcher in the Rye' and 'The Bell Jar'), and interrogates relevant mental health theory and practice. It pays specific attention to my creative decisions when writing 'The Shock of the Fall'. This novel tells the story of a young man dealing with his grief at the death of his brother and his experience of mental healthcare services for schizophrenia.

Item Type:	Article
Note:	This article is available to read online at the link above.
Keywords:	fiction, mental health, narrative, psychiatry, trauma, recovery
Divisions:	School of Writing, Publishing and the Humanities
Date Deposited:	24 Jan 2025 12:33
Last Modified:	24 Jan 2025 12:33
ISSN:	2058-5535
URI / Page ID:	https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/16806

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