Lost and Found: The Journey Through My Son's Mental Illness

by Linda M. Denke

Overview

Bias is rampant in mental illness. When Linda Denke's bipolar son went missing, her journey to find him uncovered systematic prejudices and impenetrable barriers, which threatened to separate them and thwart her son's recovery.

Lost and Found captures a painful, yet remarkable, story of courage, fortitude, faith, and resilience. Linda's insights into mental illness and societal discrimination during her son's break from reality—his hospitalizations, homelessness, and ultimately, his return to practicing law—not to mention her overwhelming fears as a parent, ensure that this is a story you will not soon forget. Linda's incredible true story will keep you turning until the very last page.

Lost and Found illuminates the stark reality of society's misconceptions toward people we love with mental illness, while also providing the force behind stigma-free healthcare for those who find themselves facing mental illness.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940161236475
Publisher:	Savio Republic
Publication date:	05/07/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Linda Denke is a tireless champion for healthcare excellence and the elevation and recognition of the profession of Nursing. She is devoted to improving outcomes and the quality of life for patient with brain disorders and families who love them.

Editorial Reviews

In her book "Lost and Found" Linda Denke takes on the role of parent, advocate, storyteller and educator who helped her son from being lost to being found with her support in his recovery. It is a must read for anyone, whether they have someone they know and love suffering from a mental illness or not.

President Selling In A Skirt - Judy Hoberman

A compelling read, a true story, as a mother simultaneously searches for her missing mentally ill son, stigma, bias, and prejudice against her son, against her, surface, as does confronting how three generations of mental illness affected her life.

Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences - Harold G. Koenig, M.D.

Anyone who has known and loved someone with a mental illness will connect with her lived-experience; gathering strength from her experiences and hope that not only survival, but recovery is indeed possible.

Clinical Manager-Psychiatry University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center-Zale Lipshy University Hospital - Rebecca Deisler

My personal hope is that more people will display the kind of courage that Dr. Denke and her son John have shown in sharing their personal stories to help others. We now know that hearing the stories of people with lived experience can offer hope and healing for others who are currently struggling with these illnesses. Thank you, Linda and John!

Administrative Director of Community Education and Clinical Development Medical City Green Oaks Hospital - Sherry Cusumano, RN, LCDC, MS

This is a poignant memoir of a mother struggling to accept that her family members, including her son, have or had mental illness, and overcoming her internalized stigma and bias. She persevered for the sake of her son who could count on her help and support to reach recovery, which he has done. Along the way she and others in her family learned some profound truths about themselves and about mental illness.

Yvonne Broach