What Happened?: What Mental Health is Really About introduces readers to deeply moving tales of patients who have journeyed through tumultuous challenges and experienced remarkable recoveries. Why was this an important book for you to write?

I wanted to challenge the prevailing ‘what’s wrong with you?’ paradigm that dominates psychiatry and psychology. Having just retired I think I wanted to ‘fire a parting shot’ at my profession.

How much research did you undertake for this book, and how much time did it take to put it all together?

The book had been in my head for a while and with Covid occuring it was a great time to write! Apart from looking up the odd reference I knew most of the research supporting my position and most of the book is in fact case studies so they were more about recall than research. I spent about three months at a friend’s house by the ocean writing the book, with absolutely nothing to do but write.

What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?

Only one, get it done.

What is one thing that you hope readers take away from What Happened?

I hope readers will ponder whether how we currently respond to mental health problems is the best response. I believe we have over medicalised and misunderstood the very nature of mental health.