Mark Ragins is an American

psychiatrist A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in psychiatry. Psychiatrists are physicians who evaluate patients to determine whether their symptoms are the result of a physical illness, a combination of physical and mental ailments or strictly ...

in the recovery movement in mental health care.

Biography

Ragins is a founding member of the Village ISA, where his work with people with severe mental illness made him a leading voices in recovery-based treatment theory. He is an international lecturer and a trainer for psychiatric residents through the

University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in ...

's psychiatry residency. Ragins is the author of numerous writings on recovery-based mental health care and reforming mental health systems to provide recovery-based care. In 2010, he published book, ''Road to Recovery''. Ragins appears as a character in the book The Soloist by Steve Lopez, which was released in a movie version in 2009. In 2021, he published the book, ''Journeys Beyond the Frontier: A Rebellious Guide to Psychosis and Other Extraordinary Experiences''. His work advises that psychiatric drugs are overprescribed, that community engagement is a critical part of recovery from mental illness, and that

psychosis In psychopathology, psychosis is a condition in which a person is unable to distinguish, in their experience of life, between what is and is not real. Examples of psychotic symptoms are delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized or inco ...

results from changes in how a person experiences reality, relationships, and self-identity. He uses a

humanistic Humanism is a philosophical stance that emphasizes the individual and social potential, and agency of human beings, whom it considers the starting point for serious moral and philosophical inquiry. The meaning of the term "humanism" ha ...

and rehabilitative approach to psychiatry. Ragins was the co-recipient of the

American Psychiatric Association The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is the main professional organization of psychiatrists and trainee psychiatrists in the United States, and the largest psychiatric organization in the world. It has more than 39,200 members who are in ...

’s 1995 van Ameringen Award for his outstanding contribution to the field of psychiatric rehabilitation and was named a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association in 2006 for his continuing work in recovery-based mental health care. He received the US Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association's John Beard Lifetime achievement award in 2011.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ragins, Mark American psychiatrists Living people Year of birth missing (living people)