Elizabeth Margaret says: I have worked with damaged teens all my life - as a teacher, a youth worker and as a foster parent. It is with grave concern that these young people will not access the professional help that they need because of their fear of the stigma of mental illness. Instead they resort to an amazing variety of self-harming behaviours - the ultimate of which is suicide. It remains the biggest single killer of Australian youth, but we are not allowed to talk about it. That is why I wrote Bent But Not Broken. It is targeted at the teenage girls, as these are the go to for their peers. It tells the story of a suicidal girl who, while on her journey of healing, meets characters who personify the most common mental health issues that our young people face today. Feedback from teens and their parents, as well as clinicians, is that by using a novel with an engaging story line to provide accurate information, it is more likely that they will move towards professional help. As I say to my young people: We will always be scarred, but these scars do not have to define us. I know that if we all share our talents and use our networks, we can provide a better world for so many people who are suffering.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 08:57:00 +0000
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