Is There No Place On Earth For Me? by Susan Sheehan
  • 1. Is There No Place On Earth For Me? is a poignant and deeply moving narrative by Susan Sheehan that explores the complexities of mental illness, particularly focusing on the experiences of young individuals who are grappling with severe emotional and psychological challenges. Through her meticulous research and compassionate storytelling, Sheehan delves into the life of her subject, a troubled teenager struggling to find a sense of belonging and understanding in a world that often seems indifferent or hostile. The book paints a vivid picture of the systemic shortcomings in mental health care, highlighting the inadequacies of institutions meant to help those in crisis. With a blend of empathy and insight, Sheehan captures the raw emotions of her subject's journey—marked by moments of despair, hope, and resilience—while also raising critical questions about society's role in supporting vulnerable individuals. Ultimately, the narrative serves as both a personal story and a broader commentary on the challenges faced by those with mental health issues, urging readers to reflect on the importance of compassion and the need for reform in the care of individuals who are often overlooked.

    Where does much of the narrative take place?
A) The patient's family home
B) Outpatient clinics in California
C) Psychiatric hospitals in New York
D) Private residential facilities
  • 2. What year was 'Is There No Place On Earth For Me?' first published?
A) 1975
B) 1990
C) 1982
D) 1985
  • 3. For what achievement did Susan Sheehan win the Pulitzer Prize for this book?
A) Journalism
B) Biography
C) General Nonfiction
D) Fiction
  • 4. How did Sheehan conduct research for this book?
A) Only reviewing medical records
B) Surveying multiple patients briefly
C) Brief interviews with the patient
D) Extensive observation and interviews over months
  • 5. What was one major theme explored in the book?
A) Success of new medications
B) Easy recovery from mental illness
C) Benefits of institutionalization
D) Failures of mental healthcare system
  • 6. How does the book portray deinstitutionalization?
A) As a complete success story
B) As unnecessary policy
C) As problematic without adequate community support
D) As the cause of mental illness
  • 7. What was Sylvia's family's attitude toward her illness?
A) Struggled to cope and help her
B) Completely abandoned her
C) Denied she had mental illness
D) Easily managed her condition
  • 8. How does Sheehan present medical professionals in the book?
A) As always effective and compassionate
B) As completely incompetent
C) As often overwhelmed and limited
D) As deliberately harmful
  • 9. How does the book address medication treatment?
A) Completely rejects its use
B) Shows limitations and side effects
C) Focuses only on alternative therapies
D) Presents it as a perfect solution
  • 10. What role do Sylvia's delusions play in the narrative?
A) They are quickly resolved
B) They are presented as factual
C) They are mostly omitted
D) They illustrate her internal reality
  • 11. What aspect of mental health policy does the book critique?
A) Lack of institutional options
B) Too many psychiatric hospitals
C) Overmedication of all patients
D) Inadequate community mental health services
  • 12. What was a significant challenge Sylvia faced after hospital discharges?
A) Finding employment immediately
B) Getting readmitted to hospitals
C) Traveling internationally
D) Finding stable housing and support
  • 13. What aspect of Sylvia's personality remains despite her illness?
A) Her artistic talent
B) Her professional skills
C) Her intelligence and wit
D) Her physical abilities
  • 14. How does Sylvia experience time and reality?
A) In fragmented and distorted ways
B) Completely normally
C) Only in the present moment
D) With enhanced clarity
  • 15. What makes this book significant in mental health literature?
A) Focus on physical health aspects
B) Humanizing portrayal of serious mental illness
C) Introduction of new treatment methods
D) Advocacy for institutionalization
  • 16. What is the real name of the patient profiled in the book?
A) Susan Sheehan
B) Sylvia Frumkin
C) Ruth Jackson
D) Anna Freud
  • 17. What prestigious award did this book win?
A) National Book Award
B) Bancroft Prize
C) Nobel Prize
D) Pulitzer Prize
  • 18. What major mental health policy change was occurring during the book's timeframe?
A) Medicare expansion
B) Universal healthcare
C) Deinstitutionalization
D) Private insurance mandates
  • 19. What time period does the book primarily cover?
A) 1970s
B) 1950s
C) 1980s
D) 1990s
  • 20. What is the significance of the book's title?
A) Quotes a famous psychiatrist
B) Reference to homelessness
C) Reflects patient's search for belonging
D) Title of a medical paper
  • 21. What was innovative about Sheehan's approach?
A) Focusing only on doctors
B) Long-term immersion reporting
C) Using fictional elements
D) Ignoring medical aspects
  • 22. What is the primary subject of Susan Sheehan's book 'Is There No Place On Earth For Me?'?
A) A doctor treating mental illness
B) A family coping with addiction
C) A young woman with schizophrenia
D) A homeless veteran with PTSD
  • 23. What literary genre best describes this work?
A) Memoir
B) Self-help book
C) Literary journalism
D) Science fiction
  • 24. How does the book conclude regarding mental healthcare?
A) Declares complete success
B) Focuses only on future hopes
C) Highlights systemic inadequacies
D) Proposes simple solutions
Created with That Quiz — where test making and test taking are made easy for math and other subject areas.