Breakthrough: A Story of Hope, Resilience and Mental Health Recovery

by Ahmed Hankir

“An honest, engaging and most of all, hopeful book.”―Adam Kay, BAFTA-winning, multi-million-bestselling author, TV writer and performer.

"Warm, funny and devastatingly honest. An incredibly insightful story full of hope and resilience." ―Dr Amir Khan, Sunday Times bestselling author and Resident Doctor for ITV's Lorraine and Good Morning Britain

"An inspiring rebuke to the nihilism which prevails in society about persons living with mental illness due to myths, misinformation and stigma...Professor Hankir's personal journey bursts with courage, resilience and hope." ―Vikram Patel, Paul Farmer Professor and Chair of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, USA

Explore mental health, wellness, and illness in this engaging and insightful discussion from a practicing psychiatrist who himself lives with a mental health condition

In A Story of Hope, Resilience and Mental Health Recovery, World Health Organization Award Winning psychiatrist, former psychiatric patient and mental health advocate Dr. Ahmed Hankir delivers a unique and powerful insight into mental health and wellness, mental illness, mental health treatment, and the culture surrounding mental health by tracing his own personal recovery journey from impoverished and shunned psychiatric patient, to becoming an NHS Consultant psychiatrist. In the book you’ll explore many of the issues currently dominating the discussion of mental health and illness, including the impacts of poverty, unemployment, the cost of living crisis, homelessness, addictions, the use of medication to treat mental illness, the widespread prevalence of stigma, discrimination and racism in mental health and much more.

You’ll also

Comprehensive discussions about how to overcome shame and stigma to seek help if you’re suffering from a mental illness. Explorations of how mental health practitioners and family members of people living with mental health conditions can themselves remain healthy as they care for others. Examinations of why mental health related stigma remains so stubbornly common in our societies and what we can do to combat it. Breakthrough is a resource of hope and a companion for people suffering in silence who feel isolated and disconnected from society. It will also be of interest to mental health practitioners, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counsellors, addictions specialists, carers and clients. The take home messages are living with a mental health condition is nothing to be ashamed about and, with the right support, recovery is a reality for the many and not the few.

Genres: Mental Health, Memoir, Nonfiction, Psychiatry, Psychology

272 pages, Paperback

Published April 15, 2024

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think Dr Ahmed Hankir is inspirational, I work in the mental health field and it’s so encouraging that a public figure and esteemed psychiatrist is talking about their own struggles with mental health.

This book helps to challenge stigma and is a beacon of light for those that believe they won’t be able to make anything of themselves due to debilitating mental health conditions.

Dr Hankir has proven, against the odds that despite suffering from suicidal thoughts and going through a severe depressive episode, encountering racism and Islamophobia and bullying, amongst other tragic and difficult life circumstances that you can be successful and that sometimes lived experience is really beneficial.

My only criticism is that I expected the book to go into more detail of his mental health and how he overcame this difficult period/ what he found helpful in managing this, instead it focused on a lot of his achievements (which are incredibly inspiring) however I would have liked to have read more about his take on how to navigate mental health difficulties.

[Hend · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a person of color from a so-called "third world country," which led me to become an immigrant, I take immense pride in seeing one of us "breakthrough" against all odds. Dr. Hankir exemplifies "resilience", the most essential quality for achieving success.

[James Bibey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A succinct and authentic story that is informative for a wide audience, and which I would consider essential reading for anyone entering the mental health profession, and strongly encouraged reading for doctors more generally. Dr. Hankir talks from the heart and gives a lived experience that we can all take hope from.

In this mainly autobiographical work, Dr. Hankir explores issues of mental health both from the perspective of a person living with and recovering from mental ill-health, stigma and discrimination (especially about racism, religion, identity, healthcare team dynamics and personalities, and society more broadly), how psychiatry today can progress, and his own lived experience (including his many achievements). It has multiple timeline jumps, putting things together generally chronologically but also exploring various themes that form each chapter. Overall, this book focusses more on the positives than the negatives, and gives hope. It is not an arduous read, and the prose style expresses the same warmth and exuberance as Dr. Hankir himself.

[tricisbookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

no words left to describe the brilliance of this book.
it is flawless.
def recommended read for everyone that is interested in mental health stigma, inequality, stories of hope, mental health advocation,…

[Nazareth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely enjoyed this book.
Devastatingly honest, raw, emotional and heartbreaking. But, at the same time, so full of hope, victory and perseverance!
People say they’re tired of being called “resilient”, because they’d like to have fewer battles.
They don’t realize, that resiliency is in our DNA. We are alive because of resiliency. We’re not “stronger” simply out of resiliency, we ADAPT because of resiliency. We find ways to learn, because of resiliency. We find new roads to take us out of our messes/darknesses, because our innate resiliency, propels us forward.
Resiliency is not merely HOW you handle stress and burdens, it’s also how you find ways to adapt and move beyond those stresses and struggles. Resiliency is the very thing that keeps you alive.
If you are someone who is tired of hearing how resilient you are, remember…you will always be resilient. No matter what. And resiliency is not solely associated to stress, trauma or hardships. Resiliency is finding a way to thrive in new places, among new people, in need of environments as well.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breakthrough made me think a lot about resilience and how healing, especially mental healing, takes time and patience. Dr Ahmed’s comparison of mental and physical injuries really stuck with me, showing that unseen struggles are just as real and demanding. The book’s focus on small, steady actions felt grounding in a world that’s always changing.

It reminded me of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, which explores emotional healing from within. Together, they highlight that growth is both an inner and outer journey, a balance between self-understanding and pushing forward.

Favorite Quotes: “In a world that’s constantly changing, persistent is your greatest strength.”

[patte randal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This profound and wise book, written by a fellow doctor who has become a psychiatrist, and who, like me, has lived experience of recovery from extreme states and crises in his mental health, moved me to tears and inspired me with hope. Ahmed’s journey through multiple losses and traumas, including discrimination and stigma within the medical profession, has miraculously led him to a leadership role in which his remarkable resilience and compassionate stance will continue to be a beacon to anyone who reads his story. Highly recommended!!

[Karen Prive · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this story of incredible hope, Dr Ahmed Hankir recounts his unlikely path to becoming a psychiatrist. While supporting himself through med school, he struggled with the war happening back home in Lebanon. His mental health deteriorated, leaving him unable to function and forced to take a year off from school. Leaning heavily on his Muslim faith and physical exercise, he found his path to recovery and resumed his quest for his career, becoming an award-winning psychiatrist on an international stage.

Dr Hankir's hope, resilience, and determination come through loud and clear. Still, I found it a little hard to identify with him in the beginning half of the book. I tried not to compare my own lifelong struggle with his experience, but found myself considering my own recovery as being rather pale. Later, as he described some of his work with patients in acute settings, I relaxed into a better place, grateful that his lived experience helps him to better connect with people who are struggling.

I also found his reliance on his Muslim faith inspiring. His description of how Islam helps him, particularly through connection and spreading love, was a message that resonated with me in spite of the differences in our beliefs.

Kudos, Dr Hankir!

[JiEun Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have no doubt that Dr. Hankir's hard work, dedication, and all challenges and obstacles he overcame and his achievement should be rightfully so celebrated and recognized. However, I felt somewhat disappointed that many of his struggles were described vaguely and in a more general sense. Some of the challenges he faced, especially with his colleagues or his seniors, were only described by his anger, frustration and I daresay tantrum-like. I'm not saying his anger is unfounded, but I would have liked to read exactly what happened. I'm not sure by describing the situation/incident in details would reveal the counterparty, and that's risky and dangerous, but missing those details made me a bit difficult to relate to his challenges.

[Amy Kwalwasser · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although the book chronicles one man’s attempt to “rage against the dying of the light,” much of the text goes down a lot of rabbit holes and returns repeatedly to self-aggrandizement to the point that it was difficult to empathize with all the author’s trials and setbacks or to rejoice in his accomplishments.

[Cal Davie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice little autobiography, touches on some key concepts of mental health.

[Muqryzafran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Respect to the unsung warriors who’re going through rough unseen battles. Humbled.

[NoRa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good. Will look more into the author.