The Angel and the Dragon: A Father's Search for Answers to His Son's Mental Illness and Suicide

Equal parts tribute to a short life and guide for parents of troubled children is Jonathan Aurthur's The Angel and the Dragon: A Father's Search for Answers to His Son's Suicide: The Myths and Realities of Mental Illness. Aurthur's son, Charley, committed suicide at age 23. A series of calls and letters from physicians, counselors, detectives, friends and even Charley himself led up to the suicide, and in this introspective yet educational book, Aurthur explains how parents can heed warning signs from their own children to prevent a fate similar to Charley's. His understandable descriptions of psychotropic drugs and honest account of bringing his son to the hospital's psychiatric ward make this a valuable resource for parents of children with mental illness.