Mark Henick gives us the gift of hope by exposing the depth of his pain. In doing so he gives us an understanding of what pain feels like, and when he shares how he found joy in his life, we are left with the unmistakable feeling that if he can do it, we can do it.”
Powerful and real, Henick’s story is a stark reminder that we are surrounded by people who struggle each and every day but who ‘keep on keeping on.’ So-Called Normal is a reality check for all, that we still have a long way to go and that advocacy is simply not enough.
Lt. Col. Stéphane Grenier (Retd.)
In this miraculous story Mark Henick shares a deeply personal tale of growing up in an exceedingly difficult family, his near-suicide and, finally, his journey to an emotionally healthy adult. Compelling, beautifully written and inspiring, Henick’s memoir will help you find the light at the end of your own tunnel.
Mark Henick is a powerful storyteller. His vivid account of his early years as a depressed, suicidal teenager is a page-turner. So-Called Normal is beautifully written, heart-wrenching, and hopeful. Necessary reading for anyone who wants a peek inside the mind of someone who journeyed through mental illness and found hope on the other side.“
So-Called Normal is a riveting account of family history, severe depression and the will to find recovery and live with resilience. It’s both a moving and powerful story filled with hope. It’s a must-read!
I met Mark Henick two decades ago when he was facing the struggle of living with a mental illness. The story of how Mark took on that challenge, and eventually prevailed, is important and inspirational reading for anyone who is living with a mental illness or [has] been a family caregiver. I strongly recommend it.”
Senator Michael Kirby (Retd.)
So-Called Normal is a mesmerizing, heart-stopping must-read. I could not put it down! His story is the real thing; I know because I’ve been there. Even if you have no one in your life who has a mental illness, you must read Mark’s book; you’ll know much more about mental illness than when you began, and that’s important. This book is important!”
So-Called Normal is essential reading for anyone dealing with mental health issues. You will come away with a better understanding of what to look for in yourself, your family and friends and what’s at stake. Even when there’s despair there can also be help and, ultimately, hope.
This is an important and indispensable book about overcoming and triumph, taking us through Henick’s wealth of emotions, and each chapter—a precious jewel in the crown of understanding.”
"[Henick] is unflinchingly forthright in approaching the subject of his mental illness and the depths to which it takes him… His beautifully rendered memoir is obligatory reading for anyone in the medical profession who works with depressed patients. It is also good reading for anyone wanting to appreciate the power of the human soul. Henick asks any who may be struggling not to 'struggle in silence.' His book could truly help someone dealing with depression or trying to help another with depression. It could even help save a life."
This book is a testament to embracing the power within us all and guides the reader as a compass to stay steadfastly committed to their own personal journey however rocky and jagged that path may be.”
This book is a must-read for anyone struggling with, caring for, or trying to better understand mental illness.”
Sgt. Kevin R. Briggs (Retd.)
Mark Henick helped save my life one night. This book might save yours.
"So-Called Normal is a triumph of authenticity. Mark Henick spares no detail in recounting his harrowing encounters with trauma, family dysfunction, and mental illness. The result is a captivating, vital work of incredible endurance, persistence, and hope."
"Whether you are learning to live with depression yourself or living with someone who has a mental illness, Mark’s story will encourage and inspire. I would like to see So-Called Normal by Mark Henick on every mental health professional’s bookshelf, available for learning and lending. A real-life moving story I won’t soon forget." 5 out of 5 stars
Joanie Chevalier for Readers’ Favorite
"This is an incredible, honest look at a difficult topic. The style is open, forthcoming and empathetic… Those who know someone suffering similarly or have dismissed people with any mental illness, including depression, will find this an enlightening and thought-provoking book." 4 out of 4 stars.
01/01/2021
Henick opens his memoir with a trigger warning to the reader, and even those readers who may not be as affected by depictions of suicidal ideation may struggle to read parts of this emotional, yet brilliant account from one of Canada's leading voices on mental health. His memoir is eloquently written, able to evoke a wide range of reactions as we follow along his journey of discovering and better understanding his mental health struggles. Henick tells of his battle with depression and anxiety, and how a stranger saved his life after a near-suicide attempt. There are moments of both sadness and joy as he describes his progression, and how he faltered and, ultimately, overcame. Along the way, the author tells the history of his Irish Catholic family, and the stigma of mental illness that still persists. VERDICT While it may be a difficult read for some, this book is a wonderful and redemptive prize to finish. A definite recommendation for those who want to better support their loved ones with mental health issues, and a great start for further discussion.—Amanda Ray, Iowa City P.L.
2020-11-19
This book opens with Henick standing on a bridge ready to take his own life. “This is the end,” writes the author. “I’m sure of it. At least, I think I’m sure.” At what seems like the point of no return, the narrative snaps back to Henick’s childhood in an attempt to understand why he felt driven to commit suicide. Growing up in Sydney, Nova Scotia, the author coped with a difficult family life. His parents had separated by the time he was 4 years old. His mother’s new partner, Gary, was a bully who rebuked Henick for playing with a pink stuffed animal: “ ‘Pink is for girls,’ he said. ‘And faggots.’ ” Also bullied at school, the author began to develop anxiety at an early age. At one point, he describes being molested by the son of a family friend. By seventh grade, Henick began making drawings detailing the ways he could kill himself. He recounts periods spent in a “psych ward” and a feeling that “people preferred to medicate my experience away instead of helping me to understand it.” Recalling therapy, he relates a chilling moment when he put a knife to his own throat in front of a counselor. As the author grew older, he embarked on a quest for self-understanding that involved writing articles about mental health while still in school and setting up a charity to raise awareness about the subject. The memoir portrays how he went on to study psychology at a university, marry, start a family, and deliver a TED talk on suicide. Henick’s harrowing journey from the “scattered stones” of his childhood to what he refers to as finally building a “house on rock” is both inspirational and revealing. The author possesses the rare ability to pinpoint and deftly describe key characteristics that fed his depression: “I was hypersensitive to people’s reactions toward me….I read things into words and behaviours that probably weren’t intended, and I projected my shame and guilt onto the world everywhere I went.” Henick recalls many personal experiences but is always careful to then examine mental illness from a broader perspective, laying bare the characteristics of a disorder like anxiety: “Anxiety is a future thing. It happens when you’re afraid of something that hasn’t happened yet, or may never happen at all.” In doing so, he renders comprehensible some aspects of mental illness that nonsufferers in particular often find difficult to grasp. The author pulls no punches in his writing, which may deter some readers: “I got home from church and tried to hang myself with an extension cord.” But it is this ability to unblinkingly see mental illness for what it is that illuminates a path to healing for Henick. The author’s recollections of his childhood are painstakingly detailed whereas descriptions of adulthood prove less so, making the closing parts of the book feel slightly hurried. For instance, the volume would benefited from a more thorough account of the author’s coming to terms with life as a father. Still, this detracts little from an elegantly written memoir that discovers hope in the darkest of moments.
A candid, graceful, and courageous account that will offer a lifeline to others.
Mark Henick is a powerful storyteller. His vivid account of his early years as a depressed, suicidal teenager is a page-turner. So-Called Normal is beautifully written, heart-wrenching, and hopeful. Necessary reading for anyone who wants a peek inside the mind of someone who journeyed through mental illness and found hope on the other side.“ — Rosie O'Donnell
“A candid, graceful, and courageous account that will offer a lifeline to others.” — Kirkus Reviews
“In this miraculous story Mark Henick shares a deeply personal tale of growing up in an exceedingly difficult family, his near-suicide and, finally, his journey to an emotionally healthy adult. Compelling, beautifully written and inspiring, Henick’s memoir will help you find the light at the end of your own tunnel.” — James Martin, SJ, author of Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone
“From the riveting first line, you’ll be taken on an unflinching personal journey with Mark Henick as he saves himself. Learn the backstory to his viral TED talk and be inspired by the heroic act of kindness that made it all possible.” — Frank Warren, author of PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives
“Mark Henick gives us the gift of hope by exposing the depth of his pain. In doing so he gives us an understanding of what pain feels like, and when he shares how he found joy in his life, we are left with the unmistakable feeling that if he can do it, we can do it.” — Michael Landsberg, founder of Sick Not Weak, and former host of Off The Record on TSN
“So-Called Normal is a mesmerizing, heart-stopping must-read. I could not put it down! His story is the real thing; I know because I’ve been there. Even if you have no one in your life who has a mental illness, you must read Mark’s book; you’ll know much more about mental illness than when you began, and that’s important. This book is important!” — Jessie Close, author of Resilience: Two Sisters and a Story of Mental Illness
“I met Mark Henick two decades ago when he was facing the struggle of living with a mental illness. The story of how Mark took on that challenge, and eventually prevailed, is important and inspirational reading for anyone who is living with a mental illness or [has] been a family caregiver. I strongly recommend it.” — Senator Michael Kirby (Retd.), founding chair of the Mental Health Commission of Canada
“So-Called Normal is a riveting account of family history, severe depression and the will to find recovery and live with resilience. It’s both a moving and powerful story filled with hope. It’s a must-read!” — Kevin Hines, filmmaker and author of Cracked Not Broken: Surviving and Thriving After a Suicide Attempt
“Powerful and real, Henick’s story is a stark reminder that we are surrounded by people who struggle each and every day but who ‘keep on keeping on.’ So-Called Normal is a reality check for all, that we still have a long way to go and that advocacy is simply not enough.” — Lt. Col. Stéphane Grenier (Retd.), author of After the War: Surviving PTSD and Changing Mental Health Culture
“So-Called Normal is essential reading for anyone dealing with mental health issues. You will come away with a better understanding of what to look for in yourself, your family and friends and what’s at stake. Even when there’s despair there can also be help and, ultimately, hope.” — Darrell Bricker, author of Next: Where to Live, What to Buy, and Who Will Lead Canada’s Future
“This book is a must-read for anyone struggling with, caring for, or trying to better understand mental illness.” — Sgt. Kevin R. Briggs (Retd.), California Highway Patrol, author of Guardian of the Golden Gate: Protecting the Line Between Hope and Despair
“This is an important and indispensable book about overcoming and triumph, taking us through Henick’s wealth of emotions, and each chapter—a precious jewel in the crown of understanding.” — Bif Naked, author of I, Bificus: A Memoir
“This book is a testament to embracing the power within us all and guides the reader as a compass to stay steadfastly committed to their own personal journey however rocky and jagged that path may be.” — Dr. Patrick Smith, president and CEO, Centre of Excellence on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Related Mental Health Conditions ce
“Mark Henick helped save my life one night. This book might save yours.” — Warren Kinsella, author of Web of Hate: Inside Canada’s Far Right Network
“This book is a wonderful and redemptive prize to finish.” — Library Journal
"So-Called Normal is a triumph of authenticity. Mark Henick spares no detail in recounting his harrowing encounters with trauma, family dysfunction, and mental illness. The result is a captivating, vital work of incredible endurance, persistence, and hope." — Arlene Dickinson, bestselling author of Reinvention: Changing Your Life, Your Career, Your Future and Co-Host, CBC's Dragons’ Den
"[A]n elegantly written memoir that discovers hope in the darkest of moments. A candid, graceful, and courageous account that will offer a lifeline to others." — Kirkus Reviews
"Whether you are learning to live with depression yourself or living with someone who has a mental illness, Mark’s story will encourage and inspire. I would like to see So-Called Normal by Mark Henick on every mental health professional’s bookshelf, available for learning and lending. A real-life moving story I won’t soon forget." 5 out of 5 stars — Joanie Chevalier for Readers’ Favorite
"[Henick] is unflinchingly forthright in approaching the subject of his mental illness and the depths to which it takes him… His beautifully rendered memoir is obligatory reading for anyone in the medical profession who works with depressed patients. It is also good reading for anyone wanting to appreciate the power of the human soul. Henick asks any who may be struggling not to 'struggle in silence.' His book could truly help someone dealing with depression or trying to help another with depression. It could even help save a life." — US Review of Books
"This is an incredible, honest look at a difficult topic. The style is open, forthcoming and empathetic… Those who know someone suffering similarly or have dismissed people with any mental illness, including depression, will find this an enlightening and thought-provoking book." 4 out of 4 stars. — Online Book Club
