cover image When Madness Comes Home: Help and Hope for the Children, Siblings, and Partners of the Mentally Ill

When Madness Comes Home: Help and Hope for the Children, Siblings, and Partners of the Mentally Ill

Victoria Secunda. Hyperion Books, $23.45 (362pp) ISBN 978-0-7868-6171-2

Secunda (When You and Your Mother Can't Be Friends) weaves her experience of growing up with a mentally ill sister into this comprehensive study that focuses on the impact of mental disorders on families. Written in accessible prose, the book effectively combines the results of her research on various aspects of mental illness--manic depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorder, substance abuse--with anecdotal information she obtained from interviews with individuals whose family members suffer from these illnesses. The result is a wealth of data to assist anyone who lives, or has lived, with a mentally ill spouse, sibling, parent or child. Although Secunda is sympathetic toward those who are diagnosed with genetic or less-defined mental conditions and strongly advocates improved prevention and treatment, she focuses here on helping family members to develop coping skills. She stresses the importance of support groups and the need to acknowledge the feelings of helplessness that can arise while living with someone who is mentally ill. Author tour. (May)