You Are Not Alone: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health-With Advice from Experts and Wisdom from Real People and Families

by Ken Duckworth

Overview

Written with authority and compassion, this is the essential resource for individuals and families seeking expert guidance on diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, featuring inspiring, true stories from real people in their own words.

Millions of people in the United States are affected by mental illness every year, and the Covid-19 pandemic only further exposed the shortcomings of the American mental health system. Too many are confused, afraid, and overwhelmed, with many asking themselves the same questions: What does it mean when different doctors give me different diagnoses? What if my insurance won’t cover my treatment? Will I ever feel better? Families and friends are often left in the dark about how best to help their loved ones, from dealing with financial and logistical issues, to handling the emotional challenges of loving someone who is suffering. 

You Are Not Alone is here to offer help. Written by Dr. Ken Duckworth with the wisdom of a psychiatrist and the vulnerability of a peer, this comprehensive guide centers the poignant lived experiences of over 125 individuals from across the country whose first-person stories illustrate the diversity of mental health journeys. This book also provides 

• Practical guidance on dealing with a vast array of mental health conditions and navigating care 
• Research-based evidence on what treatments and approaches work 
• Insight and advice from renowned clinical experts and practitioners
  
  

This singular resource—the first book from the National Alliance on Mental Illness—is a powerful reminder that help is here, and you are never alone. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781638930006
Publisher:	Zando
Publication date:	09/20/2022
Pages:	432
Sales rank:	85,214
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 6.30(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Ken Duckworth, MD, is the chief medical officer of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and has worked with NAMI since 2003. Ken is board certified in adult psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry, and is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He was previously acting commissioner and medical director at the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. Ken has worked on an assertive community treatment team, at an early psychosis program, at an elementary school, at a health plan, and with people who are unhoused. His passion for this work comes from his loving dad who had bipolar disorder. Ken lives with his family in Boston. 

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization, dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. nami.org | @namicommunicate

Table of Contents

Foreword Daniel H. Gillison Jr., CEO of NAMI vii

Introduction ix

Author's Note xi

Part I Mental Health and Mental Health Conditions

1 Do I Need Help? 3

2 The Paradox of Diagnosis 17

3 How Do I Find Help? Minding the Many Gaps 35

4 Pathways to Recovery: First Steps 61

5 Added Complexity: Co-Occurring Substance Use Conditions 83

6 The Impact of Trauma 100

7 Helping Your Child, Teen, or Young Adult 120

Part II The Recovery Journey: Evidence from Lived Experience

8 Themes of Recovery: Lessons from First-Person Experience 153

9 The Power of Peers and Community 167

10 Culture and Identity: Barriers and Opportunities 184

11 Becoming an Advocate 208

Part III Family Matters

12 Family Connection and Communication 227

13 Navigating the Legal System 245

14 The Hardest Family Questions 264

15 Making Meaning of Loss by Suicide 281

16 Family Advocacy 294

Part IV Best Practices

17 Experts Answer the Most Frequently Asked Questions 307

18 State-of-the-Art Care and Research for Specific Conditions 349

Acknowledgments 385

Resources 389

Index 401

About the Author 410

Editorial Reviews

Powerful and poignant, this book is for anyone who has struggled with mental health challenges. As a therapist myself, I value the bravery with which these people share their personal experiences to help destigmatize mental health for others. Let’s talk about it all.” —Lori Gottlieb, author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

“In this invaluable book, Dr. Duckworth amplifies the voices of real people who have dealt with mental illness, both doctors and patients. His crowd-sourced method will help people facing similar challenges feel connected to a vast community. If you read this book, you cannot feel alone in your struggles.” —Andrew Solomon, author of The Noonday Demon and Far from the Tree

“Wonderful and necessary. Dr. Duckworth provides excellent clinical information and practical advice, placing it within the deeply human context provided by those who know firsthand the pain of depression, trauma, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.” —Kay Redfield Jamison, PhD, professor of psychiatry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and author of An Unquiet Mind

“Families dealing with mental illness, which means virtually all families, need a guide that conveys hope, wisdom, and actionable information. You Are Not Alone is that guide. Unlike previous books, this is a practical guide to help all of us navigate the stormy seas of a loved one’s mental illness. A must-read.” —Thomas Insel, MD, former director of the National Institutes of Mental Health and author of Healing

“A unique, hopeful catalog of first-person lived experience with mental health collated by a humane, experienced clinician. These shared journeys will help others feel less isolated and overwhelmed. Highly recommended as an essential guide for every physician, mental health provider, and program dealing with any aspect of mental health. You Are Not Alone is a treasure.” —Bruce D. Perry, MD, PhD, author of What Happened to You

"An important book for mental health practitioners and clients alike, You Are Not Alone emphasizes the power of community. This wonderful book poignantly highlights the struggles and successes of individuals with mental health conditions and presents comprehensive, useful information from leading experts. Dr. Duckworth has provided an impressive guide for coping with mental health challenges through connection with others." —Judith S. Beck, PhD, President, Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy

From the Publisher