Dear Shane: A Mental Health Resource About Staying Alive

by Craig Kelly

In what began as a letter to the eponymous friend, Dear Shane: A Mental Health Resource about Staying Alive offers an absorbing account of the author's suicide attempts and subsequent hospitalization, providing pragmatic hope and a much-needed resource for mental health from the margins. Author Craig Kelly navigates depression and the psychiatric system as he writes about a litany of medications, gender identity, inpatient treatment, and temporary friendships made in the hospital. Dear Shane dispenses a vision of radical mental health to edify readers so that they may better support themselves and others.

Genres: Mental Health

88 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Mya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutally honest in a way that makes this zine feel so much more accessible and truthful than the many great memoirs of people dealing with mental health issues. Craig Kelly is so meticulous and non-embellishing, it's refreshing.

This book is full of struggles and hope not just for the author but for any and all readers on their way to or towards strengthening themselves against the struggle of suicidal thoughts and depressive episodes. Truly a "mental health resource" and not just a "memoir."

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Shane...is as intense and serious as open heart surgery, but the author bravely performs his magic and turns this little book into a big miracle. I think it's amazing.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this zine. I enjoyed the balance between story and educational resource. I found myself writing a lot of notes on things that I'd never taken into consideration before, which is always a marker of a good resource. I'd recommend this for professionals to read to get the balance between story and resource.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really tough read, but a really valuable resource. Refreshing to see something like this from a queer perspective, too.

[Jonas Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best thing I can say about this book is that I will probably buy more copies of it to give to friends.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotionally charged reading. TW for anyone who's depressed.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very close to my heart and resonated with me in a intensely visceral way. It is so crucial to have these stories told. Warning that this book is very triggering.

[Court Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brave zine. Could have benefited from an editor, got tripped up in errors a few times