As someone suffering from long term depression the final chapter of this book was extremely emotional for me to read. The author has put into words & images the difficulty of living with anxiety & depression in a way that doesn't belittle it or say 'I got better so you can too'. He recognises the many dimensions of depression & offers hope not a definitive answer.

The rest of the book is an amazing & educational insight into the world of all mental illnesses in an attempt to highlight awareness & end stigma. This is something everyone needs to read & would be an excellent teaching aid for future generations. ( )

Sombre but sympathetic look at various mental illnesses. The last story is about the author's own struggle with depression and anxiety. ( )

A graphic novel that seeks to beat down some of the myths around mental illness, drawing from the author's personal experiences working in a psychiatric ward.

While the style of art wasn't to my tastes, I greatly appreciate the effort that the author put into this. At the very start he explains that this is a "stigma-busting book" and that such a thing "is needed because fear and ignorance of mental illness remain widespread in society." I couldn't agree more, which is what drew to this book when I saw it at my local library. His description of the mental illnesses that he discusses is accessible and gives an honest view into the lives of those who suffer. The reason I rated it at the base/ average rating of 3 is because there was nothing truly captivating about the story or the art. Psychology is a big part of my life and what I have my degree in, otherwise I probably wouldn't have continued reading past the first few pages.

I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone for the very purpose that this book was written, though keep in mind it won't be for the purpose of entertainment. ( )

I first read a couple of these stories online a few years ago and found them compelling, so I grabbed this off the library bookshelf. It's a quick read, but moving; Cunningham's stories ring true, even if his admonitions about the stigma against mental illness are textbook cliches. ( )

This is a short read in terms of time but deserves as much time as you can give it. In 11 chapters, Cunningham illustrates his experiences working as a nursing assistant in the field of mental health, as well as his personal history with mental health. The black and white drawings pull you in to show you the faces behind people with mental health issues: bipolar disorders, depression, self-harm, dementia and suicide are all discussed in these pages. Having relatives with dementia, I found that a difficult chapter to get through, but Cunningham is sensitive and compassionate toward his subjects. This is worth reading if you can get your hands on a copy. ( )