You Are Not Alone

Thank you NetGalley, Zando Projects, and NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. I was just approved for this advance copy and, as a young woman who both suffers from anxiety, depression, and panic attacks and is also a strong advocate for mental health education, I’m very excited for this educational resource to be released. As we celebrate National Mental Health Awareness Month this May, I hope to continue to use my platform to help raise awareness & work to remove the stigma surrounding mental health issues through the spotlighting of great educational resources and diverse reads such as this. FULL REVIEW COMING SOON.

As a public librarian, I have had a long-standing relationship with my community's local NAMI chapter. They provide mental health programming for our patrons and, pre-pandemic, we provided meeting space for their support groups. Their knowledge has been invaluable in helping us learn to better interact with many of our patrons in crisis. I would have purchased this title sight-unseen but I was pleased to have the opportunity to view three chapters of it pre-publication. It is a tall order to produce a book that hopes to be a "comprehensive guide" for individuals and families dealing with mental health issues. The plan is a four-part book covering diagnosis, recovery, family, and best practices--19 chapters (Baker & Taylor says 368 pages). The writing is very clear and intended for the lay reader. The Best Practices section features a Q & A section with answers from noted experts. (Chapter 17 was one of the chapters provided for preview). I very much look forward to reading this book in its entirety and having it as a resource for my patrons.

Therapists who work with clients who struggle with attachment issues can benefit from this tool. I appreciate the tools assembled when I need a resource at my fingertips. Many of the ideas are practical. A therapist should read the book before working with a client, so that they are prepared, open, and on the same page! In the absence of our clients' best interests, we do an injustice to them!

What a great book. It’s chock full of important information for anyone (at any age) dealing with mental health. The author covers the deficiencies in our current medical coverage with places to contact, even by text. Also covers the many ways to ask for help so that you feel like “you are not alone”. I was pleasantly surprised by the gentle, comforting way the author approached each topic. Next as a society we need to confront all negativity about mental health and not as an oddity.
I received an advanced reader copy for free from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

You Are Not Alone is a solid addition to any mental health collection. The information presented about various mental illnesses is valuable and informative. While the National Alliance for Mental Illness was originally focused on support for family members of those with mental health challenges it has grown to include robust peer voices and support. You are Not Alone offers information for both peers and family members, frequently from their own voices and experiences. I found the book to be both up-to-date and extremely useful. It is easy to get through for the average reader, avoiding highly technical language and explaining the terms they do use. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for information, support, or simply the knowledge that you are not alone in your struggles.

You are Not Alone
by Ken Duckworth, MD
Pub Date: September 20, 2022
Zando
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I have already preordered this book and I believe it will be a great resource in our library. I have a counseling background and I was so glad to see there is a reference book for us to have available. It is a tall order to produce a book that hopes to be a "comprehensive guide" for individuals and families dealing with mental health issues. The writing is very clear and intended for the lay reader. The Best Practices section features a Q & A section with answers from noted experts. (Chapter 17 was one of the chapters provided for preview). I very much look forward to reading this book in its entirety and having it as a resource for my patrons.
I highly recommend.
5 stars