Mental health difficulties bring us face to face with our vulnerability as human beings, and after two years of struggling with Covid-19 concerns about mental health worldwide have never been higher.

What is often missing from these discussions is the most valuable resource of all – the personal accounts of those with lived experience of mental health difficulties.  These lived experiences show how in times of crisis people can move forward amidst the chaos, vulnerability and uncertainty of mental health problems.

There are no quick fixes or miracle cures to serious mental health issues. This book shows that ‘what works’ is whatever helps an individual make sense of what is happening to them. Mental health difficulties can best be treated by listening carefully to the stories of those who have lived through them, and then as a society finding a way to ascribe meaning to the complex reality of mental health.

'Emma’s ... capacity to create a coherent and compassionate alliance between knowledge and emotional intelligence has made her stand out.... A very important player in this space and we need to listen to her.’  Niall ‘Bressie’ Breslin, musician, mental health activist and co-founder of A Lust for Life

'We can look at the experiences we call mental health difficulties through the lens of science, and through personal stories. The first has traditionally dominated, and left little space for the second. In this thoughtful book, Emma Farrell gives space for people’s own narratives, and in doing so, enriches our understanding of the complex ways we make sense of our distress.’ Dr Lucy Johnstone, Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Dr Emma Farrell is a Senior Post-Doctoral Research Fellow and Chartered Psychologist at University College Dublin. A founding member of Headstrong (now Jigsaw) The National Centre for Youth Mental Health, she was also a member of the National Taskforce for Youth Mental Health and was the recipient of Gaisce, The President’s Award Gold Medal. She has written widely for The Irish Times and other print media.