Scan barcode
Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'
A Bit of a Stretch: The Diaries of a Prisoner by Chris Atkins
10 reviews
weekatsie's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness and Self harm
Moderate: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Cancer, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicide, Medical trauma, and Pandemic/Epidemic
paukinra's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, and Suicide
Moderate: Addiction and Racism
Minor: Murder
mollywj's review against another edition
4.5
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Excrement, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
kfquarium's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Medical content, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Classism
citrusboombox's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
bridget_t's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Racism, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
annabarnardwright's review against another edition
4.75
The author is a documentary maker convicted for unintentional tax fraud. His sentence is 5 years although he only actually serves 9 months in Wandsworth prison which is the time detailed in this diary. He befriends other white collar criminals, secures the best cell and the best prison jobs which get him a high status and more time out of his cell than everyone else. Essentially, this is an account of the best possible prison experience (and the author does acknowledge his privilege) and even then it still sounds awful.
This book gives a real insight into the failings of the prison system and how well they’re hidden from the public. I was most struck by the inequalities between prisoners, some were locked in their cells for 23 hours a day while the author seemed to mostly wander around freely thanks to his many jobs. It was so frustrating to read of prisoners missing doctors appointments, family visits and courses purely because of a disorganised system with excessive paperwork and not enough staff to physically unlock all the prisoners on time. There are so many rules and restrictions without any logical reason behind them and many instances of officers simply refusing prisoners their basic rights.
The high level of reoffending shows prison does not work as a crime deterrent. It’s unsurprising after living in inhumane conditions, being treated without respect then released without money, accommodation, employment or a support network, that many prisoners are unable to live within normal society.
Although I really enjoyed this book, I’ve only given 4.75 because of some problematic language used by the author when describing other prisoners, which was unexpected since he frequently refers to himself as a raging liberal.
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
jayevans's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Confinement and Mental illness
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
Minor: Child abuse
raachelnorth's review against another edition
4.5
A very insightful, brutally honest account of the UK prison system and the following living environment. Raw, personal and valuable account of the effects of continued isolation and lack of access to both rehabilitation and education. Showing how the disadvantaged are fail once again when incarcerated.
I am glad the author references and is aware of his own comparable priveledge and experience due to race and class.
He can come across as a bit unlikable at the start, but given context and self awareness shown through out you grow to really invest in him, his friends and family.
Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, Self harm, and Suicide
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
digitalnomadgirl's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, and Murder