A supporter has read and enjoyed an e-book published only a few days ago, Sean Hardwick’s Mental Health Behind the Mask. It’s available to buy in a Kindle edition (£4.99), but free to subscribers to Kindle Unlimited.
The description on Amazon:
1 in 4 people will experience a mental health issue this week. This book is an insight into the mind of someone who is suffering mental health issues, it is a dark yet honest explanation of the mind of a sufferer. Written in the darkest moments of my life, I had began to consider suicide, and in those moments, started to write. By articulating my thoughts, it helped me understand myself, my mind, and the invader that lurks within it.
While mental health awareness is on the rise with many successful campaigns, the problem I have experienced with my own family and through feedback from other sufferers, is that these campaigns do not translate into the conversation taking place where it needs to: In the home amongst the family. Often due to the sufferer hiding, often very successfully, or because neither party knows how to approach one another and address an issue that cuts to the core of our being.
This book is intended to allow sufferers and their families to know they are not alone and provide methods and questions both parties can use to aid in beginning the discussion on mental health. It can be awkward and even embarrassing for both parties, this book aims to remedy that.
As mentioned before this book is an insight into a sufferers mind. It is dark, it is painful, but it is honest. Sufferers will recognise the commonalities, loved ones will find it scary or even terrifying to learn what their loved ones are going through. But the goal of this book is simply to allow both to reach an understanding, and start that important conversation within the family.
I’d been in touch with Sean before, so contacted him, and he kindly sent me his essay on Toxic Masculinity, which is contained in the book.