Hidden Lives: True Stories from People Who Live with Mental Illness

by Lenore Rowntree (editor), Andrew Boden (Editor), Gabor Maté (Foreword)

A revised and updated edition of a collection of personal essays that illuminate what life is like for those who live with mental illness, and how it impacts their family members.

More than 4 million Canadians and 57 million Americans suffer from a diagnosable mental illness, and yet there are still considerable stigmas and a great deal of misunderstanding surrounding even the most common diagnoses—schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, clinical depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and dissociative identity disorder.

Rather than analyze the diagnoses and symptoms, these first-hand accounts focus on the very essence of a psycho-emotional breakdown, and respond to the mental, physical, and emotional turmoil it inevitably causes. What does a mother do when her teenage son's personality suddenly fractures? How does a police officer cope when his employer refuses to provide adequate care until he can prove his PTSD is work-related? How do children grow up under the care of a manic father whose illness lands him in and out of medical and social incarceration?

Raw, honest, and painful, these essays communicate disappointment and despair, but also courage and compassion. They offer a lifeline for sufferers and support for their friends and family, and promote new and improved attitudes toward those with mental illness.

With a foreword by respected physician, bestselling author, and renowned speaker Dr. Gabor Maté, Hidden Lives gives readers a place to turn, and provides a platform to share their struggle.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Mental Health, Health, Memoir, Biography, Essays

313 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 4, 2012

About the author

Lenore Rowntree's writing has appeared in several Canadian literary journals, including Geist, The Tyee, The New Quarterly, Room Magazine, and Other Voices. Her play The Woods at Tender Creek was produced in 2010 as part of the Walking Fish Festival in Vancouver, and her poetry was included in the anthology Best Canadian Poetry 2010. She was shortlisted for a CBC Literary Award in 2009 for the essay "Flat Champagne," written about her sister's childhood schizophrenia. Lenore currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Reviews

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who has lived the confusion, pain and drama of struggling to understand madness in a loved one should thank the editors for this book. It doesn't help. What can? But it illuminates glimpses of shared experience at new angles. None of them identical. All of them almost familiar.

[Frank Reiter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains stories written by people whose lives have been touched profoundly by mental illness. I love the way each story opens up a view into a part of people's lives that we rarely get to see, and shines a light on how varied mental illness is, how difficult it is to live with, and yet how much people are able to overcome. Sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes inspiring, and always interesting, this book has really broadened my view of mental illness.

[Buck Dornster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection of life stories about people struggling with their own mental illness or that of a loved one. Great stuff!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great collection! Really touching, interesting stories of people living with mental illness and those who love them. This was not dark or depressing at all to read - I actually found it encouraging and hopeful. Hopeful because the bulk of the stories were written by family members of the ill, and the love and commitment they had for their loved ones, even when things were difficult, was so apparent on every page. Encouraging because these were such open, honest stories of mental illness. No stigmas, no sensationalism. Just stories about families. What a beautiful way for people to learn they aren't alone.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to give this book closer to 5 stars upon second review, due to the fact that this compilation of short stories were, for the most part, amazing, and partly because I realized on route to return to the library that I had missed reading 4 or 5 of them, as short stories are sometimes read in random order.

[Tracy Schillemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like that this is a collection of short essays. It is easy to add it in between chapters of another book.
The stories are quite candid. It was great that the stories were from a variety of perspectives, suffers, children, parents etc.

[NCHS Library]

From Follett:An evocative collection that illuminates life for those directly affected by mental illness--both the sufferers and their family members--and endeavours to lift the stigma that exists around it.

More than 57 million Americans suffer from a diagnosable mental illness, and yet there are still considerable stigmas and a great deal of misunderstanding surrounding even the most common diagnoses--schizophrenia, biopolar disorder, autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, clinical depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and dissociative identity disorder.

This groundbreaking collection of personal essays written by sufferers or their family members aims to break down those biases and stigmas. Rather than analyze the diagnoses and symptoms, these first-hand accounts focus on the very essence of a psycho-emotional breakdown, and respond to the mental, physical, and emotional turmoil it inevitably causes. What does a mother do when her teenager son's personality suddenly fractures, creating five new people? How does a police officer cope when his employer refuses to provide adequate care until he can prove his PTSD is work-related? How do children grow up under the care of a manic father whose illness lands him in and out of medical and social incarceration?

[Sherry Monger · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a more current and revised edition of this book available, however, it has not been purchased by my library, so I borrowed this one instead.
These stories are first hand experiences of families and siblings of mental health patients, along with those afflicted, describing their harrowing lives dealing with mental illness. The stories are about the emotional and physical struggles of patients and their loved ones. It would appear that there are few answers even from those who are educated in the field. There are usually many professionals who attempt to direct, counsel and medicate those under their care, but treatment is often hodge podge and experimental - if one anti psychotic is not working, let's try another one, or another dosage. It is easy to see why so many ill patients fall through the cracks or are left to fend for themselves on the streets.

[Daphne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book depicts personal essays on people who are personally managing their disorders and living with families who are diagnosed with disorders. Some stories were very heartfelt and it elaborates on the next-of-kin (NOK) emotions on facing head on with their loved ones suffering from the mental illness. Personally, this is a genre that’s very new to me; from the perspective on how disorders are developed to relating it in real life on how the disorders are managed/experienced. A different perspective may be insightful not just understanding what are disorders are but how disorders are affecting/managed by the personal accounts that are collated by the authors.

[Casandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

”If [his] body were hunting, people would send gifts, but because its his mind, they throw bricks”

4.5 stars

My co-worker gave me this book to read, saying it was truly eye-opening. And she was right. I thoroughly enjoyed every essay in this collection. I work very closely with individuals who suffer from mental illness, so tHidden Lives really hit close to home.

[Samantha Conn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some stories were definitely easier to read than others, but overall, the stories were a great insight into people surviving with their mental illnesses.

[Alan T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lenore Rowntree's "Hidden Lives" is such a little jewel - sensitivity, courage and humour - all in one series of wonderful short stories. I can hardly wait for the movie version! -Alan T.

[Nishna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the back and forth, I really felt like the author was carrying me along and it gave a lot of great insight

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful collection of perspectives of mental illness’ impact on families and relationships. At times heartbreaking, sometimes hopeful, these stories offer a myriad of perspectives, including one especially illuminating firsthand account. Each stores have as very worthwhile so a well-edited selection here.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Difficult narratives of Canadians either having severe mental illness, being parents of children having severe mental illness, or being siblings of the latter category.

Some interesting stories. The parents and siblings of diagnosed mentally ill children seem to have it the toughest, since they feel responsible for the welfare of a child that is combative or extremely odd or just personally dysfunctional. The most interesting two chapters are by sisters, one of them a childhood-diagnosed schizophrenic, and the other one of the editors of the book.

[Andrea Spagnuolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

More books are needed like this!! There are enough books about mental illness from an academic/educational perspective but what is lacking is material from those actually suffering from mental illness and those around them experiencing it in their own way alongside with them.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing perspective into how mental illness affects families and the people with it. Just stunning. I really loved every story in here!

[Morag · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars.