Dear Sir,
World Mental Health Day on the 10th October sets me thinking again. The focus this year is on suicide prevention. Raising awareness of this issue is a positive action but I have always been concerned about ‘what happens next’. Suicide can be the end result of despair, addiction, or untreated mental illness to name but a few. When people attempt suicide, and survive, what is there in store for them? NHS resources for mental health care are still in short supply, with many admirable third sector organisations filling in the gaps.
I wish to share information about my book, ‘Not Just an Alcoholic’, published by Chipmunka Publishing. The aim of the memoir is to allow my son, Steven, to have his voice heard and to attempt to promote awareness of the need for improved mental health care for young people.
Steven’s story is true, as far as memory allows, and illustrates the difficulties our family contended with, in a bid to live well with a mental health illness. My son was an intelligent and unique boy who grew into an anxious teenager and a mentally distressed man.
The many labels given to him – Aspergers, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Bipolar, Personality Disorder and ‘just an alcoholic’, illustrate our battle for consistent effective and holistic care.
You can read extracts of the book on the Facebook page, ‘Not Just an Alcoholic’, and on Amazon where the book is for sale. It can also be purchased directly from me for £13.00.
I welcome comments, via Facebook or reviews on Facebook and Amazon. As an author, I am available for talks and events relating to promoting good mental health. Please help me get Steven’s voice heard at last.
