Snowflake: Breaking Through Mental Health Stereotypes and Stigma

by Lucy Nichol

'Sensitively and seriously explores mental health stereotypes' Stylist

This is NOT a book of rules or statistics.
It will NOT tell you what you can and can’t say to someone with a mental health problem – or to anyone for that matter.
It WILL increase your understanding and empower you to stop stigma in its tracks.
Take a deep-dive into some of the most harmful mental health stereotypes with mental health advocate and author Lucy Nichol.
Lucy exposes 10 of the most harmful mental health stereotypes and explores the impact of social media, the power of the press and how mental health is represented in popular culture.
With the help of experts and the voices of those affected by these harmful perspectives, Lucy makes a case for how we can dismantle stigma once and for all.
Foreword by Sue Baker OBE. Contributors Natasha Devon MBE, Jonny Benjamin MBE, Hope Virgo, Cara Lisette and Dr Craig Malkin.

Genres: Nonfiction

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 10, 2023

About the author

Lucy, whose author names are Lucy Nichol and Lucy Roth, writes fiction and non fiction with a love of comedy, nostalgia, music and busting mental health myths.

She is also a freelance writer, mental health advocate and PR consultant whose work has appeared in The Independent, The I Paper, NME, Red Magazine, Den of Geek, Huff Post and many more. She is passionate about challenging mental health and particularly addiction stigma, has worked with the media in PR and marketing for over 18 years and has experienced anxiety for even longer.

Reviews

[Nayra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.50⭐


En este libro, la autora trata de reflejar el impacto que pueden tener el estigma social y los estereotipos asociados a la salud mental en las personas que lo sufren, haciendo un recorrido por diferentes problemas psicológicos.

Creo que en líneas generales la idea es muy buena y la autora ha sabido llevarla a cabo de una forma adecuada. Libros así son necesarios que la gente los lea para concienciarse un poco más sobre aquellos problemas sobre los que tanto se escucha, pero sobre los que tan poco saben. Además, la autora expone algunos testimonios de profesionales y de personas que han sufrido estos problemas, lo que hace que se pueda percibir el impacto de una forma más directa.

De nuevo, repito que creo que es una libro adecuado para leer, sobre todo para personas que no estén familiarizadas con este tipo de problemáticas. Sin embargo, aunque me ha gustado el libro y la idea, tras haber estudiado psicología, considero que algunos capítulos no son del todo acertados, o al menos, desde mi visión, deberían plantearse de otra forma.

[Lynn Fraser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish this book could be placed into the hands of all who needed to hear it’s messages about acceptance and care - those who need to receive those things and give them. Failing that, I hope that this is one instance where ‘trickle down ‘ works. The book is accessible and well-researched with Lucy acting as a kind of intermediary between those who have experienced the mental health issues discussed and the ‘experts’. The focus on language is thought-provoking. The emphasis on the need for us to be gentle with each other and less judgemental - however right we think we are - is refreshing and much needed.

[James Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

TW: this book contains mentions of many mental health disorders and general mental illness. BUT this is reason for this book and I would totally recommend it once you undertaking it’s contents.

Thank you to NetGalley and Welbeck Publishing for accepting me as a pre-publication reviewer of this book.

This book was so so good. It is evidently clear that Lucy Nichol put a lot of passion and knowledge into it, it’s formatted exceptionally well, super easy to understand and very engaging. After the introduction which brings attention to the power of language as well as context when talking about mental health, each chapter deals with a common derogatory term - Nichol explains the term, it’s history/origins, how it leads to stigma - and then follows thorough with a linked condition and how stigma around language has impacted people. She inserts her own anecdotes, personal experience and also those of professionals (GPs, mental health nurses and doctors, charity organisations and many others) - the language is not super scientific but made to be understood by a large audience but is also sophisticated in the way it’s out forward - and people she reached out to on social media who have the condition and the way stigma has affected them. I think this setup was very well executed, I learned so much and was engaged throughout. It’s somewhat like a whistle-stop tour of various mental health issues with each not being too wordy or dragging on but does go into enough detail - I think this was done so we can do more reading and research if and when we want but it’s great starting place and Nichol provides us with resources and sources at the end to aid in this.

There were many takeaways from this book and I honestly learned a lot. I was also challenged in places which was great, it’s okay to admit we don’t know things and many people in this book have dealt with the same thing. It was great to read from an interested perspective but personally too and I am super happy I was able to read it and become more informed and hopefully a better resource for myself and others. It wasn’t exactly enjoyable due to the book’s contents but overall it was a mentally rewarding read and I cannot say a bad thing in terms of the writing which isn’t poetic or ‘beautiful’ but does read very well following a logical path.

The derogatory term and subsequent conditions discussed are:
Attention seeking - self harm
Snowflake - resilience
Miserable - antidepressants
Workshy - presenteeism/workplace culture
Psycho - psychopathy v psychosis (schizophrenia and other causes) + media portrayals
Neurotic - stigma around anxiety disorders: health anxiety (hypochondria), ocd, ptsd
Wino - trauma and addiction (to numb/distract) 80% people with addiction also have a mental health problem
Vain - eating disorders (esp on men)
Flawed - personality disorders + impact of labels and stigma (esp within mental health services)
Bad - people in the prison system - to access support? Get away from abuse? Addiction? lack of services + internal stigma
Asylums - psychiatric hospitals

Above is very barebones approach to the book’s contents and I did expand on each topic in my reading vlog/review you can see here: https://youtu.be/lVDNB46IKWs

Some quotes that spoke out to me:

‘All too often, symptoms are
being treated but the core problems are not.’ - to do with helping people with addiction but not the actual underlying condition
‘Stigma is a societal sickness that can cause distress and inhibit recovery and, put simply, it needs putting in its place - preferably in a locked box in a darkened room.’
‘Words matter. If they didn't, we wouldn't be so hopelessly devoted to them.’
‘…recover from the physical damage over time. However, as words escape our mouths or fingertips through typing, it's very onerous to take them back and they have the capacity to create fortresses in people's minds that can tremendously limit their self-worth, dismantle their self-esteem or destroy them mentally.’ - words certainly do matter!
‘calling somebody a snowflake comes across as being on a par with a toddler screaming “I hate you" because they've been caught stealing midget gems’
‘resilience is actually a by-product of being well supported. The more meaningful connections you have in your life, the more resilient you'll be’
‘checking in on someone and listening without judgement is paramount. Sometimes people are very good at masking what's going on inside.’
‘There is no illness in existence in which 'snapping out of it’ is an effective treatment.’ - this is so true
‘See the person, not the stereotype’ - my favourite and it can be said for many things that make us different
‘They say that relapse isn't part of recovery but I completely disagree - very few people get sober on their first try. Celebrate the small wins. Don't get caught up in perfection. DO NOT GIVE UP.’
‘everyone's personality is unique - just like every snowflake! And just because you have a specific personality disorder label it doesn't mean that you are like anybody else with that specific label.’

[Roberta Stebel · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF à 40%.
Tellement générique et superficiel. Une espèce de compilation de phrases inspirantes telle que l'on en retrouve sur Facebook. Pas intéressant pour une personne qui veut approfondir ses connaissances en matière de stigmatisation et de questions de santé mentale.

[Annie Maxwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

THIS BOOK IS INCREDIBLE DETAILED ABOUT BREAKING THE STIGMA OF MENTAL HEATH AND THE STEREOTYPES PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND THE IMPACT OF THEM. GOING INTO GREAT DETAIL OF THE HISTORY OF THESE SAYINGS AND HOW HARMFUL THEY CAN BE EXPLORING TERMS LIKE 'SNOWFLAKE', 'WRAPPED IN COTTON WOOL', 'FREEBLE' AND 'FLAKESTIEN'. SHE GOES INTO DETAIL OF THE AFFECTS MENTAL HEALTH MEDICATION HAS ON SOMEONE'S MENTAL HEALTH. THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN VERY WELL FOR THE OLDER GENERATION WHO DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND MENTAL HEALTH ALL TO WELL.


AS SOMEONE WHO WAS NEGLECTED BY THOSE WHO WERE SUPPOSE TO HELP ME AS A CHILD WHEN I REACHED OUT (POLICE, TEACHERS, DOCTORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, THERAPIST, COUNCILLORS, THE COUNCIL ETC) I CAN RELATE TO THIS BOOK SO MUCH. AS SOMEONE WHO WAS CALLED AN 'ATTENTION SEEKER' FOR HITTING MY BREAKING POINT IN COLLEGE AFTER CONSTANTLY REACHING OUT BUT GETTING NO HELP AND IN TURN TRYING TO END MY LIFE IN THE COLLEGE BUILDING. THIS BOOK DIVES DEEP INTO DIFFERENT BEHAVIOURS AND SAYINGS WHICH ARE VERY HARMFUL TO THOSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND HOW SOMETHING MAY NOT BE AS PERCEIVED. AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT SOMEONE IS GOING THROUGH BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. A LINE FROM A SONG I WROTE IN COLLEGE 'BECAUSE NO ONE HAS SEEN THE TEARS THAT I'VE CRIED AND THE LIES BEHIND THAT PRECIOUS SMILE. REALLY RELATES TO THIS.

[Kate Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Lucy Nichol. I have read a couple of her previous books and I have followed her mental health campaigning for a while now.
This book is up there with some of the best I have read on the topic of mental health. I think the title can be a bit misleading, as I would think it would be for the 'young people' due to the term 'snowflake' - I couldn't have been more wrong.
As a 30-something woman who has been suffering with my mental health for some time, this book really spoke to me. Lucy Nichol's writing is so comforting and personable. It feels very conversational, even though it still includes facts and figures, it's not overwhelming.
There are many different topics that Nichol's covers in this book, some were more relevant to me than others but I definitely got a lot from every section.

[Robert Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't disagree with anything this book. I didn't think it was particularly badly written. I didn't notice ger on with the personality of the author. I didn't really mind being told what to do and what not to do. I didn't take exception to be told to check my privileges. I didn't find any spelling or gramatical errors. I didn't find any issues with the logic. I don't doubt that I'm a better person for having read this book. I just didn't particularly like the experience of reading it.

[Daniella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I realise reviews for this book may be based on personal experiences / understanding of mental health, including the stereotypes that go alongside matters.
It scratched the surface, and offered a helpful overview, however I quite liked the historic facts and it would be nice to hear positive quotes from people who have been supported, as opposed to just the negative ones.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wise, witty and compassionate guide to mental illness and the stigma which surrounds it with expert advice woven seamlessly through. A must read for anyone looking to understand the facts hidden beneath the myths of stigma.

[Lara Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short yet ppowerful book on mental health. The author explores topics including language and work and spefic conditions including adiction, anxiety, eating disorders and personality disorders.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book incredibly validating. I related to a lot of the content and was very busy highlighting passages throughout. Fresh and relatable, a brilliant read.

[Ami · Rating 1 out of 5]

While I agree with Nichol’s core messages, Snowflake reads more like a long essay that has been (painstakingly and needlessly, might I add) stretched into a book.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente libro para entender un poco los temas de salud mental. 😍🫶🏿

[Roberta Stebel]

This book is like a collection of positive ringing articles you could easily find on the Internet. Not worth the read. DNF.

[Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy Nichol tackles mental health stigma and stereotypes with support from a number of professionals to advocate for better understanding and awareness.

Thank you to Lucy and Welbeck Publishing for the proof of Snowflake; I knew it would be a book I’d be very interested in reading. It’s nice to see that there are more conversations about mental health and debunking myths/stereotypes about mental health conditions, making it a more inclusive society to all.

However, there’s still a lot of work to be done, and Lucy demonstrates this in Snowflake. Guided by advice and facts from professionals, Lucy argues that mental health is complex and needs to be considered just as important as physical health. This includes the right treatments for different conditions, and cracking down on negative stereotypes and stigma that make it more difficult for people to access help.

It’s an informative and interesting read that aims to promote awareness and understanding of the importance of mental health.

[🌶 peppersocks 🧦 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reflections and lessons learned/the content of this book made me feel…

…that understanding might be getting better, but perhaps impatience in some is their way of trying to understand? An important look at truth and vulnerability