People who have lived with mental illness, and their families, have put into their own words how long it took to go from the day treatment began to rebuilding daily life at home and in their neighborhoods. The National Center for Mental Health has published a collection of mental health personal accounts titled "Facing the Mind." It contains 20 award-winning entries from the 2024 and 2026 mental health personal essay contests. The center said it released the book to coincide with Mental Health Day.
The center described the book's message as 'not turning away from one's own mind and seeking the help one needs is the start of recovery.'
The illnesses the writers experienced differ from one another. According to the center, people who have lived with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, gambling addiction and other conditions wrote about how they recovered while receiving treatment. Time spent outside the hospital is also included.
These are scenes of people carrying on with daily life at home and in their communities. Writings by family members who endured alongside them are also included.
The book is organized into four chapters that follow the course from the start of treatment to the recovery of daily life and seeking help. The first chapter, 'Speaking the Mind,' contains the contest winners. Treatment and recovery information useful for patients and families is also included, covering how to notice changes in symptoms, what to prepare when going to a first medical appointment, and matters related to school.
The personal essay contest accepted entries over two years, 2024 and 2026. Before receiving their awards, the writers had to decide to reveal their illnesses to others. Disclosing a diagnosis and writing about the days of taking medication is by no means easy where prejudice remains. As twenty such pieces came together, the message that it is all right to ask for help came directly from those who lived through it, in their own voices, rather than from others speaking on their behalf.
Writings by family members are also included in the book. Families at a loss over what to do when someone close to them is first diagnosed can also refer to the information on noticing changes in symptoms and preparing for a first appointment.
The pieces that won awards in this year's contest were published in book form in the same year. When someone about to share their story for the first time opens this book, the title of the first chapter, 'Speaking the Mind,' catches their eye.
