Heads Up: Changing Minds on Mental Health

by Melanie Siebert, Belle Wuthrich (Illustrator)

Overview

★ “Informative, diverse, and highly engaging; a much-needed addition to the realm of mental health.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Featuring real-life stories of people who have found hope and meaning in the midst of life’s struggles, Heads Up: Changing Minds on Mental Health is the go-to guide for teenagers who want to know about mental health, mental illness, trauma and recovery. For too long, mental health problems have been kept in the shadows, leaving people to suffer in silence, or worse, to be feared, bullied or pushed to the margins of society where survival is difficult.  

This book shines a light on the troubled history of thinking about and treating mental illness and tells the stories of courageous pioneers in the field of psychiatry who fought for more compassionate, respectful and effective treatments. It provides a helpful guide to the major mental health diagnoses along with ideas and resources to support those who are suffering. But it also moves beyond a biomedical focus and considers the latest science that shows how trauma and social inequality impact mental health. The book explores how mental health is more than just “in our heads” and includes the voices of Indigenous people who share a more holistic way of thinking about wellness, balancing mind, body, heart and spirit. Highlighting innovative approaches such as trauma-informed activities like yoga and hip-hop, police mental health teams, and peer support for youth, Heads Up shares the stories of people who are sparking change.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781459819115
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	04/21/2020
Series:	Orca Issues Series , #4
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	367,747
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.68(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Melanie Siebert is a youth and family counsellor in Victoria, British Columbia. She works with people to transform depression, anxiety, trauma, and inner conflict into meaning, purpose, and hope. She also specializes in suicide intervention and prevention. Melanie has a Master of Social Work and a Master of Fine Arts. She has also worked as an emergency medical technician, a river guide and a creative writing instructor. Her first poetry collection, Deepwater Vee (McClelland & Stewart), was a finalist for Canada's Governor General's Literary Award.

Belle Wuthrich is an illustrator and designer specializing in books for young readers. Based in Vancouver, Belle has contributed to more than a dozen books for kids, a number of which have won awards or been republished internationally, including the Montaigne Medal Award–winning Eyes and Spies: How You’re Tracked and Why You Should Know and the Silver Birch Award nominee Eat Up: An Infographic Exploration of Food.

Table of Contents

Introduction 3

1 Mental Health: The Science, Theories and Mysteries 9

2 Sinners, Beasts or Fools?: The Awful History of "Treating" Mental Illness and the Efforts for Reform 43

3 Modern Cures?: Psychotherapy, Psychiatry and Community Treatment 59

4 Tell Me What's Wrong: Common Diagnoses 85

5 The Road to Wellness: On Surviving and Thriving 125

6 Candid and Courageous: It's Time to Talk 145

Acknowledgements 169

Resources 171

Glossary 174

Photo Credits 181

Index 183

Editorial Reviews

A sense of respect imbues every page…Everything in this book reassures the troubled teen that they are not alone, need not suffer in silence, and can forge a unique pathway to wellness. The value of this book cannot be overstated or underestimated.

School Library Connection

A wonderful introduction to society's ever-evolving relationship with understanding mental illness.

Canadian Children's Book News

04/01/2020

Gr 7 Up—This helpful handbook examines the topic of mental health. In easy-to-read chapters, Siebert (who has a Master of Social Work) skillfully breaks down what mental health is and provides examples of different types of mental illnesses, the history of mental health, treatment methods of the past, and how we treat and can treat mental health today. Woven into the text are stories from real people with mental illness as well as the author's experiences dealing with mental health. Small in size and filled with Wuthrich's superb illustrations, this book will be easy to hand to teens looking for resources on the topic. Quality information and tools in the text and inserts throughout the book are provided. However, the end of the last chapter does not feel conclusive. The author's note is more definitive as an ending. A glossary and several resources make up the back matter, including information for those in crisis. VERDICT An informative and nonintimidating work; a suitable addition for libraries needing to add to their mental health collection.—Amanda Borgia, Uniondale Public Library, NY

School Library Journal

★ 2020-02-26
A comprehensive guide highlighting diverse approaches to mental health and illness and featuring stories of teens and adults.

From biological factors to Indigenous healing practices, Siebert’s guide to navigating mental health is incredibly thorough. After opening with personal anecdotes, Siebert covers the history of attitudes toward and treatment of mental illness, contemporary options for treatment, summaries of common diagnoses, paths to maintaining wellness, and confronting shame and stigma. Throughout Siebert highlights real teens and adults from a variety of backgrounds to help readers understand the material being presented. By addressing the impacts of structural and social inequality as well as biological aspects, Siebert has written a well-rounded guide to understanding mental health and healing in a holistic way. Although aimed at young adults and with a focus on the Canadian context, references to international stories and coverage of issues that transcend national lines, such as the impact on mental health of homophobia, substance abuse, and pressures that leads to challenges with body image, make this broadly relevant for all readers seeking to understand mental illness and the importance of mental health. Filled with captivating full-color graphics that provide information in a visually appealing, bite-sized manner, this book serves as a one-stop guide for the busy teen and busier adult.

Informative, diverse, and highly engaging; a much-needed addition to the realm of mental health. (author’s note, resources, glossary, photo credits, index) (Nonfiction. 12-adult)

Kirkus Reviews

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