Ebook: Behind the Wall : The True Story of Mental Illness as Told by Parents

In this unique perspective on mental illness, parents tell the dramatictrue stories of grief, hope, and recovery. Mental illness profoundly impacts family and loved ones. These seventrue stories told by nine parents were selected from interviewsconducted by sisters, Mary and Elin Widdifield, and interwoven withone sister’s own experiences. Told with remarkable candor, these storiesoffer more insight than any single story or academic analysis. Behind theWall provides a shared voice for millions of people who advocate for achild or loved one who lives with mental illness, fosters a better understandingfor society at-large, and delivers a compelling and ultimatelyhopeful read for anyone fascinated by the human condition. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly twenty millionAmericans ages eighteen and older suffer from a serious mental illness.Sixty million — about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosablemental disorder in a given year. Factor in the family membersprofoundly affected by a loved one’s disorder and mental illness touchesvirtually all of us. Yet it remains a subject that is often misunderstood, rarely talked about,and frequently stigmatizing. When mental illness enters the nationaldiscussion, it typically comes in the wake of a violent tragedy, attractingtemporary attention and further misunderstanding. Behind the Wallposits that while mental health professionals and policy makers provideinvaluable perspectives, the true story of mental illness can be told mostaccurately by the people in the trenches: the parents who watched it allunfold with their child in harrowing and heartfelt detail. ***** Behind The Wallis a collection of seven true stories of adult children who live with serious mental illness told with remarkable candor by parents who witnessed the often harrowing and other times hopeful events along their challenging journey. Parents introduce children through memories of early childhood and any first symptoms. Chapters 2 - 8 are single narratives about each child. Chapters 9-10 interweave discussions on grief, coping, expectations, acceptance, recovery, and hope.Behind The Wallresists a scholarly approach, but through the power of story illustrates real struggles of caring and advocating for a mentally ill person. Professionals know research, but many do notlivewith a mentally ill person. Perspectives presented are valuable to any parent but critically so to those whose child is newly diagnosed. Parents living similar experiences will feel less alone. Supporters of caregivers gain empathy; professionals learn the truth about what goes on behind the wall.