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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@doctor_benjis #giftedbook #book5of2024 #book #bookgeek #booknerd #bookworm #booklover #newbook #booksofinstagram #ukbookinstagram #bookstagram #ilovereading #booksandcoffee #getlostinabook #bookclub #readandchill #bookreviews #2024books #currentread #currentlyreading #bookish #leftrealityforalittlebit #metime
#youdonthavetobemadtoworkhere

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.

This incredible memoir by Dr. Benji Waterhouse follows his time as a Junior Doctor through to his time as a Consultant specialising in Psychiatry for the NHS. With a healthy pinch of gallows humour, Benji recounts his experiences trying to help his patients in an under-funded, under-staffed, over-crowded system.

I loved the anecdotes of Benji with his patients. Some interactions were hilarious, others were heartbreaking, but in every instance it was clear that Benji was doing everything in his power to help his patients, despite the difficulties that come with working for the NHS.

I also loved the twist of reading about Benji’s sessions with his own psychologist, which were also very funny whilst being really rather heartbreaking. As a writer, Benji is warm and engaging, and the book is extremely well-written and accessible even for people without much (or indeed any) medical knowledge.

The stats on mental health, and it’s woeful underfunding, understaffing, and often “outdated” treatments, makes for depressing reading, but having people like Dr. Waterhouse in the NHS certainly gives hope. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a memoir – particularly any fans of Adam Kay’s “This is Going to Hurt”.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

👨‍⚕️ REVIEW 👨‍⚕️

You Don’t Have to be Mad to Work Here by Dr Benji Waterhouse
Release Date: 16th May

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

📝 - Benji Waterhouse, a psychiatrist working in the NHS in London, gives his account of what it’s really like on the frontlines of the country’s mental health wards from his first day to the coronavirus pandemic. The story is told through his patients and other people he meets along the way, and what he learns from each, sometimes uplifting and sometimes cynical.

💭 - I did definitely like this read, it was very honest (sometimes bitingly so) about the conditions of the NHS, and the problems that still don’t get enough awareness, despite the rise in activism around mental health. Because Dr Waterhouse wasn’t dealing with low grade depression or anxiety, but severe schizophrenia, bipolar, and personality disorders. Some of the stories are quite harrowing, especially those that hit close to home, so I recommend caution, but I still found that most things were dealt with so honestly and candidly. Perhaps one for fans of This Is Going To Hurt (although I’ve never read it…)

#bookreview #review #bookrecommendations #nonfiction #psychology #mentalhealth #psychiatry #memoir #benjiwaterhouse #youdonthavetobemadtoworkhere

I ADORED this book. It’s honest, heartbreaking, heartwarming and hilarious all in equal measure.

This is written by Benji, a psychiatrist, and details his career journey through medical school and the understaffed, underfunded and overworked NHS and I salute him and his colleagues for all they do.

It’s mostly a thankless task, as the author and his colleagues attempt to support people’s mental health whilst battling with the human challenge of not knowing if what they do makes a positive difference, thwarted by nonsensical procedures and overloaded to an incredible extent.

Within all of this though, there is humanity, caring, understanding and humour and I’m so grateful that Benji told his story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK Vintage for the opportunity to preview this amazing read and I wish the author every success.

Not a fan of the humor on this book but is a good one to read anout the state of the NHS and the insight about mental health professionals. Psychiatrists don't have an easy job and especially when they don't have the resources and/or support necessary. If you are not familiar with some psychological terms, you will struggle a bit to comprehend some of the stuff discussed. Very important read.

This was a brilliant book and I loved it. From the start with such rapacious humour it really got me interested and I could not wait to return to reading it.
The insight into the world of psychiatry was totally fascinating, it is not a field that non medics know about and it was interesting, yet horrific to see how the mind of people can destroy them.
The care that this doctor shows in these stories is amazing. You can understand how someone gets into this field as they feel they can help. Thank goodness they do.
A wonderful insightful book

"Maybe the logic is that if you’re going to end up on a psych ward one way or another, you may as well get paid for it."...

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Akin to Adam Kays "This is going to hurt", Benji Waterhouse recounts his experiences working as an NHS Phsychiatrist, taking us through memorable cases of his career and giving an interesting account into the difficulties within the NHS with regards to mental health support in terms of understaffing and lacking resources.

The style of writing is quite "gallows humour", which I particularly enjoy but may not be for everyone.
After all, "Humour is widely acknowledged as the ‘best medicine’. Although for chlamydia, penicillin is still medically preferable to a knock-knock joke."..

I feel the level of humour is just right in this book, making it light hearted enough despite discussing some quite dark and troublesome areas, whilst still remaining caring and professional, and giving the reader empathy for both the health care workers in this profession, as well as the patients whose cases are discussed throughout.

Very interesting read. Some medical knowledge and terminology throughout (understandably), though not overwhelming and described well. Couldn't put down - read the whole thing in a day!

Thankyou to netgalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book.

Wow the book that really make you think. Is that me, who do I know that this helps.?

A moving tale of a young intern studying to do what he has always wanted to do . Question is can he pull it off?

The mixture of tales from patients really brings it home to you., also his own internal struggle. Well written and the contents flow really smoothly in this book.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book.

A deeply personal, but also honestly funny look at modern psychiatry in the UK. Waterhouse has a way with words that involves the reader in a difficult and sensitive topic without alienating them with medical technobabble. By splitting the book into three sections (and within those sections chapters on his patients, colleagues, mentors and own therapy sessions) it makes it an accessible read that's easy to get lost in.
Make no mistake, there are sections of this book that will touch a nerve (I don't think there's anyone who hasn't been touched by mental health in some form or another) as well as make you incredibly angry at the state of mental health treatment, especially emergency access, but this is to be applauded. The fact that Waterhouse draws parallels between what he sees through his career and his own mental health and parental issues is a brave step to take.

I hope that another book is on it's way in the future as there is so much more to tell.

A really good read. In the same vein (excuse the medical reference) as Adam Kay’s ‘This is Going to Hurt’ and Dr Nick Edwards’s ‘In Stitches’ but this time set in mental health. The running theme through it all is the very sad fact that the NHS is chronically underfunded and this puts pressure on staff, and reduces the quality of treatments to the patients.
“Statistically one in four of us will experience a mental health problem at some point, and while mental illness accounts for 28% of the nation’s overall disease burden, it receives just 13% of NHS funding”
As with many medical professionals (I have a paramedic, nurse, and operating theatre practitioner in my immediate family so I think I can claim this), it is tackled with a dark humour and I found myself laughing at points, but also sensitively you were never laughing AT people or stigmatising mental illness further. It is also tragically sad, I’ve always felt a sadness around mental illness that the brain is acting against you and making you believe things that aren’t true, from the more minor imposter syndrome up to full on delusions – I feel the same about dreams and hate people telling me about them, LOL.
From the sounds of things in the acknowledgements Benji Waterhouse has been meeting with TV execs, and I will look forward to seeing it if it is televised.
If you like the above mentioned books, then I think you will love this one too.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read ‘You Don’t Have to be Mad to Work Here’ in exchange for an honest review.