I loved this book! As a retired midwife, I could identify with his description of working for the NHS and my goodness, Benji Waterhouse is a funny guy! His humour had me laughing out loud! It’s a heart-warming and heart-wrenching tale in equal measures of how junior doctors (and most health professionals) learn by the ‘see one, do one, teach one’ ethos that is apparently still present in the NHS (not for midwives I should add, you had to see 10 before they let you ‘do’ one!) It also captures the need to see the funny side of your job or you’d crumble at times.

As part of my general training I was seconded to a psychiatric unit where the view from the sitting room windows was of the railway viaduct known for its popularity as a potential suicide jumping point. I also remember walking in on my first day and not having a clue who was a fellow health professional and who was a patient. In those days (early 90s) smoking was still permitted and it was like walking into a bar…………a fog of cigarette smoke as staff and patients seemed to smoke all day long! When I finally located a staff member, I was advised to just chat to the patients. This book took me right back to those days of not knowing quite what to say to those patients who sat staring at the viaduct all day long, me wondering if they were thinking about jumping or just daydreaming and being terrified to bring up the subject of suicide in case I gave them ideas. (I now know that talking about suicide doesn’t increase the likelihood of someone carrying it through, quite the opposite but I didn’t know it then.)

I loved that Benji willingly shared his own imperfections too, with tales of his childhood, his relationship with his parents and siblings and his relationship with Esther and of course, Joseph, his own therapist. His honesty and vulnerability was touching. I particularly enjoyed the tales of lockdown. Lockdown gets blamed for everything these days and it’s not often that anyone points out the positives aspects of it.

I’ve read other books by medics, some I’ve enjoyed, some I’ve felt were just egos needing some bolstering and glory. This was refreshingly different, honest, touching, and hysterically funny in places!! I hope Benji writes more books!

Dr Benji Waterhouse opens the door to his psychiatry office and gives us the opportunity to learn more about the NHS mental health services. From his time as a junior doctor, stints at the crisis team and PICU through to a consultant. We get to meet some of his patients, colleagues, family and learn about his own mental health.

The start of this had me rolling with laughter, it was absolutely hilarious! Unfortunately, that smile is quickly off my face as he gets further in to the mental health crisis and the impact it not only has on the patients, but the staff too.

“Statistically one in four of us will experience a mental health problem at some point, and while mental illness accounts for 28% of the nations overall disease burden, it receives just 13% of nhs funding. In fact, despite increased demand for mental health support, the number of psychiatric beds in England has fallen from 67,000 in 1988 to be 18,000 in 2019”

Some of the patient’s stories will pull at your heart strings and some will make you chuckle (even though you know you shouldn’t!). I found Paige’s story particularly sad. Unwell, but not unwell enough to have access to the help she clearly needs to get better. It was difficult to read that the stigma of personality disorders doesn’t just lay with the general public, but health professionals too.

“In reality people with schizophrenia are more likely to be victims of violence. Alcohol and drug misuse is a far bigger risk factor for violence and homicide, yet curiously people don’t fear parties like they do psychiatric hospitals”

As someone who was diagnosed as bipolar, after bouncing around in the system for 15 years, it was an incredibly interesting read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for my advanced copy.

A gentleman with schizophrenia is asked if he’d like to increase his medication to help quieten the voices. His response: “No thank you, doctor, some of them are nice. And besides, they keep me company.”

I saw psychiatrist Benji speak at a conference a couple of years ago where he read the opening of this book. He outlined how the ward plant received all the things he was lacking - water, sunlight, caring attention. Hundreds of us nodded along furiously and then cried laughing. I’m so excited for this book to come out shortly, having very gratefully received an advanced e-copy a few months ago.

A self described social worker with a stethoscope, Benji takes us through his specialist training in psychiatry. Unlike most medical memoirs I’ve read, Benji takes a scalpel to his own life, documenting his expreience in therapy. It feels like a real privilege to hear about his own childhood, his parents and the difficulties the family has had to overcome.

While there are plenty of anecdotes that will make you laugh, Waterhouse manages to avoid using patients merely as gags to be laughed at. Stories from life in clinic are infused with compassion and introspection. He marries his expectations of his role with the reality of a cash strapped NHS trying to keep a psychiatric service afloat.

I think this book is so important in terms of conveying some of the reality of a life with chronic, enduring mental illness like schizophrenia. The stigma that follows patients everywhere colours so much of their lives. At one point, Benji tried to set up a patient in a gardening club to provide some routine, only to be met by horror at the other end of the phone from the gardeners.

Simply, this is a fantastic read. If you enjoyed This is Going to Hurt, there’s a lot here to enjoy and ponder over.

Benji strikes a good balance of showing the reader the realities of working in mental health whilst keeping light hearted about what is actually quite a desperate situation. As with all NHS services everyone is stretched and patients are not getting the service they need. Benji's patient stories, along with his own personal trauma add soul to the narrative. I couldn't put it down most nights before bed. I'd welcome more about life as a Psychiatrist!

I’d like to thank Random House UK, Vintage and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘You Don’t Have To Be Mad To Work Here’ written by Benji Waterhouse in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

‘You Don’t Have To Be Mad To Work Here’ is a ‘fly-on-the-padded-wall’ account of a psychiatrist’s life as the author chooses to work in the field of psychiatry within the NHS so that he can help those with serious mental illnesses. He tells of his early days training under the guidance of Dr Glick, as he works through the Covid pandemic and finally becomes a consultant, all the while realising that the more he knows the less he feels he knows. He talks openly about his relationship with his family, his mother’s demands for a grandchild, and making a home together with his girlfriend Esther.

The author has written an interesting memoir of his life in a London hospital that’s been told with an engaging sense of humour that had me smiling. He told of his own need for counselling with Joseph and included amusing stories of his patients, particularly the woman who flew in from America in a wedding dress ready to marry Harry Styles, Gladys who was a changed person after having an ECG, and the patient who thought he was a werewolf. The story of how he only just avoided having a mass break-out thanks to the collapsing legs of the table-tennis table had me grinning. He commented on his struggles to make himself a cup of tea thanks to the staff having to supply their own tea-bags and milk, and the general lack of funds allowing the NHS to employ more staff. This has been an interesting and thought-provoking read, an eye-opener that’s made me want to laugh and cry and that I greatly enjoyed.

An interesting and humorous account of the working life of a psychiatrist. I loved the anecdotes and descriptions of the various patients.
An illuminating read

“You Don’t Have To Be Mad To Work Here” is a memoir from Dr Benji Waterhouse, an NHS psychiatrist, about his training and work in this often misunderstood field of medicine (are they psychiatrists, psychologists or psychics?!). It doesn’t hold back - each chapter features a different patient’s story and the difficulties that can arise with diagnoses and then getting the treatment needed. As is so often with memoirs of staff who work in the NHS, the challenges are numerous, not least the mental health struggles that psychiatrists can face themselves. In this respect, the book was particularly enlightening and thought provoking.

And while, again with these memoirs, there can be some hugely sad moments and frustrating ones around the lack of funding for our healthcare system, it makes the reader (or it certainly made me!) feel grateful for all of the work that these professionals do.

This book is funny, saddening, grim, uplifting, hopeful and I would recommend that everyone reads it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

A laugh out loud view of a psychiatrist`s work as he was training is quite an eye opener on the vast shortage of staff and beds for admitting patients and the stress he goes through himself.
Each chapter he has a different patient and how he try's to help them. the variety of symptoms are quiet an eye opener.
The book is full of humour and can be sometimes heart breaking.
I definitely recommend this book.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review.

I have worked as a mental health social worker for years, on and off wards and in community teams. This book actually made me laugh and cry , and related in such an honest way how scared, sad and happy this work can make you , all in quick succession. I could maybe have wished some of the thornier issues like self harm, or antidepressants, were delved into a wee bit more, so as not to inadvertently feed stereotypes, but overall I thought the author did a cracking job,

This is a wonderful, beautifully written and life-affirming book. If you liked This is Going to Hurt then you’ll love this tale of a psychiatrist beginning his career in the NHS. Inevitably there is pathos and anguish aplenty, but there are also moments of joy, and kindness. A deep humanity runs throughout the book.
Reading this book taught me some fascinating insights into mental illness and treatments, as well as what it might take to support people who are suffering.
The author writes deftly, with brilliant dry humour and wit, unafraid to acknowledge his own foibles and the many ironies of working in a huge, well-meaning, but bureaucratic and overstretched system. Statistics offer an alarming picture of the NHS, especially during the pandemic years, and of the impact on patients and staff where there simply isn’t enough help available. A book that feels honest and written with heart.
Highly recommended.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for sending me this proof copy!

You Don’t Have to Be Mad To Work here is a medical memoir that includes not only patient stories but also personal stories to Benji Waterhouse!

Each chapter involves a different patient and explains the story around their diagnosis. I love how each of these patients show just the different factors that can lead to a diagnosis and also how different they can all be! No one faces the same mental health issues and each are dependent on the specific individual.

I loved the honesty throughout! The idea that people in these professions have “it all figured out” and are basically superhumans when in reality they face the same situations as you and I. It felt so real and raw.

I really like how the medical terms are used. I feel like we are given a great deal of information and insight into the NHS and the world of psychiatry and this is explained in a way that is understandable! Sometimes I worry with these books that it’s going to be like reading a medical textbook but it’s definitely not.

I’d definitely recommend this book!

I think this book is brilliant! We follow Benji from being a junior doctor training to be a Physiatrist in the NHS, all the way to being a consultant.

We got to hear about how understaffed and underpaid the NHS is from the inside: the doctors. It was a hard-hitting read, but Dr Benji added some dark humour throughout that made the book even more entertaining. We heard about lots of patients and how the NHS can struggle to care for everyone, especially when it comes to mental health. It was deep and moving, with added hard humour, and I couldn't put this book down.

I didn't know much about physciatry before this, and it was such an interesting and insightful read. Not only did the author cover the stories of his patients, but he also covered his own story and admitted how hard his job could be on his own mental health. This gave me even more admiration for our amazing NHS, who try so unbelievably hard to give the best care possible in such tough situations!

Thank-you @netgalley for allowing me to read this prepublication for an honest review. What a book. This is my best book ofn2024 so far ! Having experienced being in the NHS, it was very relatable to me. Benji takes us on a journey through his training from a fresh junior to becoming a consultant as a psychiatrist in many NHS settings. It's a sad, laugh out loud funny, educational book about a  crumbling crippled care system that is understaffed , has underpaid, and overworked staff whilst trying to care for everyone. It really reminded me of reading Adam Kayes books as I lay in bed laughing, then the next minute crying. The descriptions of functioning in the NHS were quite hard-hitting to read as this was what broke me when I was in it.
It has small chapters with a story of a patient with educational details amongst the upset and laughter. I highly recommend this book. I'm definitely buying a physical book when it's released in May 2024.
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Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK (Vintage) for access to the ARC.

I wouldn't be surprised if this is compared to "This is Going to Hurt", both books talk about the NHS system but from different perspectives. The book if funny and charming, as well as bleak and cold when discussing the limitations of mental health support available in a underfunded system.
The personal anecdotes are touching and reflective, more vunerable than I have come to expect in this genre (as there is a lot of focus on personal flaws).
I'd highly reccommed this book to those who want an interesting, thought-provoking read.

Note: The kindle formatting does not translate well as footnotes tend to be in the middle of pages and words are pushed together making it a challenge to read sections. There are also a few spelling errors littered throughout.

This book isn't an easy read, and nor should it be -It's intense in ways I absolutely didn't expect but I'm really glad I read it.
I've been perilously close to using that side of the NHS system and a few of my friends have had a wide range of experiences with psychiatrics (both positive and negative), I will say that if you have similar experiences, you may find this book triggering.

I was attracted by the title thinking it would be the usual pop-science medic memoir type thing, but Benji shows a lot more than that. It's eye opening what the services look like from the other side, the good, the bad and the ugly. There's a lot of hard truths and honestly a fair bit of sadness (and personally, what I think are horrors for those who the system fails), but the small injections of humour and lightheartedness bring Benji's story to life.
(and I'm really glad he told it).

I hadn't realised until I finished this book that the author is also a stand up comedian, but this shines through in the, often black, humour that elevates this autobiography. I think anyone working in the NHS will recognise his frustrations, fears and challenges, but also the pleasures and personal stories that stay with you and keep you returning for the next shift. I felt he balanced these really well, and allowed a glimpse into his personal life and personality without taking over the narrative. Recommended for anyone who wants to understand more about mental health care, and why it can be so difficult to access.
Thank you to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.

You Don’t Have to Be Mad to Work Here by Dr Benji Waterhouse, is an account of his experiences, during training to become an NHS Consultant Psychiatrist. It is brutally honest, about both the situation facing NHS Mental Health services, and his own personal mental health.

The figures shared in the preface regarding mental health spending, and bed capacity within the NHS, backs up the woeful situation facing the millions who struggle with their mental health daily, and those clinicians desperately trying to help them. From the very first page, Benji’s dark humour, is present. A much needed coping mechanism for those in high pressure, vital roles like his.

Each patient has a chapter, with some patients making a return appearance. Malcolm really pulled at my heart strings. The response he gave when asked if he would like his medication increased, stunned and moved me. I stopped reading for a while at that point. Tariq and Tyson also really affected me. I’ve seen many times how important a four footed family member is to someone in Tariq’s situation.

I like the very honest approach taken within the pages. There are very uncomfortable truths addressed, such as the disproportionate numbers of black male patients within psychiatric units, and the use of treatments that feel like they have come from the history books. It also reflects on diagnoses that thankfully are now seen to be not a mental illness, such as pregnancy outside of wedlock and homosexuality.

It is a field, in a healthcare system that the author truly believes in, and has only ever wanted to do his utmost in. Ripping off the sticking plaster to show what lurks beneath the surface, feels like a battle cry. To get more help to his beleaguered colleagues, maybe even a teabag or two; and more beds and staff for the mentally unwell patients; as well as removing the stigma from poor mental health.

This book has left me feeling a gamut of emotions. It has made me smile, it has made me sad, and many in between. You Don’t Need to Be Mad to Work Here is entertaining, eye opening and heart breaking. 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.

You Don't Have to Be Mad to Work Here is a thoughtful account of the NHS psychiatric system. Waterhouse's account focuses on his training years, which enables him to offer us insight from various angles of psychiatric care while he moves around various departments from year to year.

Whilst the NHS is undoubtedly in crisis, and psychiatry more so than ever, it is comforting to read about the genuine care and concern that doctors like Waterhouse have for their patients despite their ever-increasing workloads and worsening working conditions. The many stories of patients with whom Waterhouse has come into contact offer insight into the lives of those suffering from mental illness and the obstacles both patients and doctors are faced with when it comes to accessing and getting suitable care.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in reading about lived experiences of doctors and patients within the NHS, psychiatric care in the UK and the state of the NHS in general.

I thought this was excellent! If you liked Adam Kay's humorous medical memoirs, then this should definitely by high up on your list.

I have had therapy on and off for over 15 years, with varying successes, but it's left me with an interest in psychiatry and this sounded like it would be interesting and good fun.

There's definitely this dark, morbid humour that I think is vital in every medical profession. You find yourself laughing at something, and then feeling mad that you've laughed at it. But it's alright to laugh. As someone with physical and mental problems, I have learned that laughing is good, otherwise I'd just sit here and cry.

Even for someone with mental health difficulties, I am in awe at doctors who specialise in that area. Even with the help there is nowadays, it can be a lot harder to see a mental health illness and so harder to treat, than a physical injury like a broken leg. And the repercussions of getting that treatment wrong can be a lot more serious.

I'm always worried when a book says that all the people, locations, dates, and identifiable information has been changed as I worry how the truth of the matter can be written, and that it would become more fictional than non. But you can see Benji's experience in this, things I don't even think the most imaginative author could invent.

I apologise for such a short review; obviously there's no plot or characters to discuss etc. But put simply, it is a very interesting book, fascinating, but also entertaining. It's happy and sad, hopeful but despairing. It shows the whole spectrum of mental health and mental illness, and I really would recommend this to anyone who loves medical books, memoirs, humour, or those just wanting a good read.

This memoir by Dr Benji Waterhouse was an emotive, incredibly interesting read. In it Dr Benji shares his journey as a psychiatrist in the NHS. It was brilliantly written from the very beginning and such an important insight to the NHS and mental health services.