Mental America by Stewart Swain

Rating:

3 Stars

Themes:

Non-Fiction, Memoir, Mental Health

Thoughts:

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a hell of a powerful read, providing us with a brutal look into the mental health of America over a holiday weekend (labour day). Swain is somewhat blunt, especially on the tough decisions he had to make that weekend but it provides a real insight into the crisis mindsets of that extremely long shift. Swain himself started to seem a little burnt out as the shift wore on such as losing compassion to addicts and the impulsive thoughts of violence from his OCD, but for 72 hours on shift or on call, most of it while ill I’m sure most people would be the same. I did notice that there was a lot of his non-working focus on alcohol but since it is a holiday weekend most people’s minds would likely be on when they can get a drink. Also the statistics on emergency and crisis workers mental health and coping mechanisms makes it understandable.

Favourite Quote:

“Emergency rooms weren't designed for a daily tsunami of mental illness.”

Comments

Vincent: A Graphic Biography by Simon Elliott

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Comic, Non-Fiction, Biography Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a great little book on Vincent van Gogh. It is very detailed containing pieces of his life such as changing careers and failed love interests that are often not considered when we think of van Gogh, instead favouring his art and mental health. The illustrations were really well done and at times helped to bring levity to the story which isn’t often the happiest of lives.

The War of Sober by Edward Rand

Rating: 4 Stars Themes: Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Addiction, Psychology Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a great book not just for addicts trying to establish and maintain their sobriety but also psychologists, counsellors and the people working with them. It approaches the experience of addiction from the perspective of going to war and may help those who can’t get along with the 12 steps, contingency management or other forms of therapy traditionally used. It’s also helpful to have Edward detail his own experiences and approaches throughout so it feels less clinical and shows he does know what he’s talking about when he mentions the difficulties so it comes across less patronising than some self-help addiction books. Favourite Quote: "It doesn't matter what happened yesterday. Win or lose, if we are still alive, we must decide to be different today and then make the correct choices today, because friends, ...

Broken Glass by Sarah Kay

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Poetry Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This collection is mixed for me, some of the poems were really good and all were definitely emotive but I think so many poems on the Hamas attack and subsequent war which is highly politically charged a little difficult to tackle. Favourite Quote: "What good is it to open my heart when in the end, you will stab it in the back?"

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