Patrick Kennedy tackles mental health stigma in latest book

Four years into the COVID-19 pandemic, news of a mental health crisis in the United States seems to be hitting the news every day. According to the CDC, more than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness. Levels of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and other mental disorders continue to rise among all age groups, especially young people, raising concerns about solutions and the path forward. In 2021, more than four in 10 high school students (42%) felt sad or hopeless all the time, nearly one-third (29%) felt that their mental health was poor, and more than one in five (22%) seriously considered suicide.

Patrick J. Kennedy continues his family’s tradition of fighting the good fight by working for many years to end the stigma of mental illness and to promote effective policy change. Since publishing his first book in 2015, A common struggle, Kennedy has been open about his struggles with mental health and addiction, and he and his co-author, award-winning journalist and Columbia University professor Stephen Fried, recently published a new book. Mental Health Courage Profile. The book is filled with personal stories from people of all backgrounds living with a variety of mental illnesses. From actors to medical professionals, each chapter offers a unique perspective on an individual’s experience living with mental illness. At the same time, Kennedy and Freed strive to ensure that these illnesses are not rare, but are shared issues that affect us all.

Kennedy added: “We Mental Health Courage Profile “We chose this film because we thought that by telling the stories of 12 different people with mental illnesses and addictions in detail in a way that’s rarely done, we could really make a difference in the epidemic of these diseases in our country. We and the people we interviewed feel strongly that too many Americans don’t really understand what it’s like to experience these illnesses or how to support a friend or loved one who has them.”

Kennedy and Freed led the creation of this book, but the inspiration, gratitude, and learnings from others are evident throughout. Simone Biles’ bold decision to not compete in the Olympics to prioritize her mental health prompted Kennedy and Freed to analyze the negative reaction and lack of understanding many Americans have to the concept of mental illness. Reading the stories of people like Ashley Dunlop, a health care assistant in Nashville, Tennessee, leaves readers with a range of emotions. Dunlop struggled with addiction to cocaine, crack, and heroin for most of her life, and was in and out of treatment centers more times than she could count. Kennedy’s writing shows that addiction and mental illness are intimately connected, and recovery is not always linear. Kennedy gives us a brief history of addiction in the book, pointing out that addiction and mental health have historically been treated as two separate issues, but in reality they should be addressed in the same way.

While many of the scenes depicted seem gloomy, there is a sense of hope and optimism throughout the book. For example, singer Henry Pratt, who comes from a famous performing family, gives an uplifting story about his battle with depression while attending the University of Pennsylvania. The reader learns that Henry stood up to the university president and advocated for better mental health resources for students, who did not have them at the time, which resulted in the creation of a Chief Health Officer position at the University of Pennsylvania. This was an effective change for the school, as medical professionals responsible for the health of students and faculty were now available at any time they needed.

“The work was challenging, exhilarating, and at times surprisingly dark, especially because our profiled subjects were allowed to back out at any time (and several did),” Freed says candidly. “But the people we wrote about were uniformly brave, insightful, and fully committed to the process, even when describing incredibly difficult circumstances and hurt. I have been nothing but inspired by them, and I hope that these stories will change others’ lives as they have changed ours.”

In the back of the book is a QR code to Alignment for Progress, an action-oriented movement started by the Kennedy family that uses financial incentives to obtain mental health support, housing, talk therapy, and medication. People suffering from anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses can Mental Health Courage Profile It’s a must-read and an enlightening book for those who aren’t. Steps in this direction could encourage more Americans to share their experiences with their mental health journeys, and maybe save more lives in the process.

of Wellbeing The blog supports the critical health and wellbeing of all individuals, raising awareness, reducing stigma and discrimination and shifting public debate. The Wellbeing Campaign launched with the Youth Mental Health Project in 2020 and was followed by a documentary series in 2022. Mental illness among young people lurking in plain sight (Currently available on the PBS app) And in the 2025 series, hiding in Plain Vision: Adult spirit diseaseis produced and directed by Ewers Brothers Productions, executive produced by Ken Burns and presented by WETA, PBS’ flagship station in the nation’s capital.

for more information: #WellBeings #WellBeingsLive WellBeings.org. You are not alone. If you or someone you know is in crisis, whether or not they are thinking about suicide, please call, text or chat to 988 to speak to a trained crisis counsellor.