Mental illness snuck up on us and it took years to realise what we were dealing with.
Here are some data: according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2007), 45% of the population between 16 and 85 years old, or 7.3 million people, suffered from a mental disorder at some point in their life. The ABS National Survey of Health and Well-being in 2008 found that “the proportion of Australians estimated to have a long-term mental or behavioural problem increased progressively between 1995 and 2005.” The Mental Health Foundation in the UK reports that 1 in 4 people will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year. Although reliable figures of other countries are hard to obtain, there is no reason to assume that the situation is any different there.
Jenny and I wrote this book because we have a story to tell. It is our sincere desire that our story will help those who are in the same situation as us: confused by mental illness, overwhelmed by its complications and its wide variety of manifestations. Above all, this story was written to encourage and give hope to Christians and non-Christians alike: there are answers, there are solutions, there is healing. Our story describes these.
For at least 25 years, I’ve been indirectly affected by mental illness. Here’s a summary: I’ve worked for three mentally ill bosses – one alcoholic and two schizophrenics. At the same time, my wife, Jenny, suffered from severe depression and eventually developed schizophrenia. About ten years later, our son started suffering from depression at the age of 15 and turned bi-polar within the next year and a half. Finally, and I pray that this is finally, our daughter became clinically depressed and has just developed a less severe form of bi-polar disorder. This book does not cover their story. Others in the family and in our constantly changing circle of friends (who don’t want to be mentioned) suffered from different forms of mental illness; some with dire consequences. Although I became depressed myself and had a short time on an anti-depressant, I am writing from a carer’s perspective.
Luke Zimmermann
Here are some data: according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2007), 45% of the population between 16 and 85 years old, or 7.3 million people, suffered from a mental disorder at some point in their life. The ABS National Survey of Health and Well-being in 2008 found that “the proportion of Australians estimated to have a long-term mental or behavioural problem increased progressively between 1995 and 2005.” The Mental Health Foundation in the UK reports that 1 in 4 people will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year. Although reliable figures of other countries are hard to obtain, there is no reason to assume that the situation is any different there.
Jenny and I wrote this book because we have a story to tell. It is our sincere desire that our story will help those who are in the same situation as us: confused by mental illness, overwhelmed by its complications and its wide variety of manifestations. Above all, this story was written to encourage and give hope to Christians and non-Christians alike: there are answers, there are solutions, there is healing. Our story describes these.
For at least 25 years, I’ve been indirectly affected by mental illness. Here’s a summary: I’ve worked for three mentally ill bosses – one alcoholic and two schizophrenics. At the same time, my wife, Jenny, suffered from severe depression and eventually developed schizophrenia. About ten years later, our son started suffering from depression at the age of 15 and turned bi-polar within the next year and a half. Finally, and I pray that this is finally, our daughter became clinically depressed and has just developed a less severe form of bi-polar disorder. This book does not cover their story. Others in the family and in our constantly changing circle of friends (who don’t want to be mentioned) suffered from different forms of mental illness; some with dire consequences. Although I became depressed myself and had a short time on an anti-depressant, I am writing from a carer’s perspective.
Luke Zimmermann