You Are Not Alone

“Powerful and poignant, this book is for anyone who has struggled with mental health challenges. As a therapist myself, I value the bravery with which these people share their personal experiences to help destigmatize mental health for others. Let’s talk about it all.” —Lori Gottlieb, author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone“In this invaluable book, Dr. Duckworth amplifies the voices of real people who have dealt with mental illness, both doctors and patients. His crowd-sourced method will help people facing similar challenges feel connected to a vast community. If you read this book, you cannot feel alone in your struggles.” —Andrew Solomon, author of The Noonday Demon and Far from the Tree“Wonderful and necessary. Dr. Duckworth provides excellent clinical information and practical advice, placing it within the deeply human context provided by those who know firsthand the pain of depression, trauma, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.” —Kay Redfield Jamison, PhD, professor of psychiatry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and author of An Unquiet Mind“Families dealing with mental illness, which means virtually all families, need a guide that conveys hope, wisdom, and actionable information. You Are Not Alone is that guide. Unlike previous books, this is a practical guide to help all of us navigate the stormy seas of a loved one’s mental illness. A must-read.” —Thomas Insel, MD, former director of the National Institutes of Mental Health and author of Healing“A unique, hopeful catalog of first-person lived experience with mental health collated by a humane, experienced clinician. These shared journeys will help others feel less isolated and overwhelmed. Highly recommended as an essential guide for every physician, mental health provider, and program dealing with any aspect of mental health. You Are Not Alone is a treasure.” —Bruce D. Perry, MD, PhD, author of What Happened to You“An important book for mental health practitioners and clients alike, You Are Not Alone emphasizes the power of community. This wonderful book poignantly highlights the struggles and successes of individuals with mental health conditions and presents comprehensive, useful information from leading experts. Dr. Duckworth has provided an impressive guide for coping with mental health challenges through connection with others.” —Judith S. Beck, PhD, President, Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Ken Duckworth, MD, is the chief medical officer of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and has worked with NAMI since 2003. Ken is board certified in adult psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry, and is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He was previously acting commissioner and medical director at the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. Ken has worked on an assertive community treatment team, at an early psychosis program, at an elementary school, at a health plan, and with people who are unhoused. His passion for this work comes from his loving dad who had bipolar disorder. Ken lives with his family in Boston.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization, dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.