So-Called Normal : A Memoir of Family, Depression and Resilience
Author(s): Mark Henick
A vital and triumphant story of perseverance and recovery by one of Canada’s foremost advocates for mental health
When Mark Henick was a teenager in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, he was overwhelmed by depression and anxiety that led to a series of increasingly dangerous suicide attempts. One night, he climbed onto a bridge over an overpass and stood in the wind, clinging to a girder. Someone shouted, “Jump, you coward!” Another man, a stranger in a brown coat, talked to him quietly, calmly and with deep empathy. Just as Henick’s feet touched open air, the man in the brown coat encircled his chest and pulled him to safety. This near-death experience changed Henick’s life forever.
So-Called Normal is Henick’s memoir about growing up in a broken home and the events that led to that fateful night on the bridge. It is a vivid and personal account of the mental health challenges he experienced in childhood and his subsequent journey toward healing and recovery.
Review(s):
“Mark Henick is a powerful storyteller. His vivid account of his early years as a depressed, suicidal teenager is a page-turner. So-Called Normal is beautifully written, heart-wrenching, and hopeful. Necessary reading for anyone who wants a peek inside the mind of someone who journeyed through mental illness and found hope on the other side.“
“A candid, graceful, and courageous account that will offer a lifeline to others.”
“In this miraculous story Mark Henick shares a deeply personal tale of growing up in an exceedingly difficult family, his near-suicide and, finally, his journey to an emotionally healthy adult. Compelling, beautifully written and inspiring, Henick’s memoir will help you find the light at the end of your own tunnel.”
“From the riveting first line, you’ll be taken on an unflinching personal journey with Mark Henick as he saves himself. Learn the backstory to his viral TED talk and be inspired by the heroic act of kindness that made it all possible.”
“Mark Henick gives us the gift of hope by exposing the depth of his pain. In doing so he gives us an understanding of what pain feels like, and when he shares how he found joy in his life, we are left with the unmistakable feeling that if he can do it, we can do it.”
“So-Called Normal is a mesmerizing, heart-stopping must-read. I could not put it down! His story is the real thing; I know because I’ve been there. Even if you have no one in your life who has a mental illness, you must read Mark’s book; you’ll know much more about mental illness than when you began, and that’s important. This book is important!”
“I met Mark Henick two decades ago when he was facing the struggle of living with a mental illness. The story of how Mark took on that challenge, and eventually prevailed, is important and inspirational reading for anyone who is living with a mental illness or [has] been a family caregiver. I strongly recommend it.”
“So-Called Normal is a riveting account of family history, severe depression and the will to find recovery and live with resilience. It’s both a moving and powerful story filled with hope. It’s a must-read!”
“Powerful and real, Henick’s story is a stark reminder that we are surrounded by people who struggle each and every day but who ‘keep on keeping on.’ So-Called Normal is a reality check for all, that we still have a long way to go and that advocacy is simply not enough.”
“So-Called Normal is essential reading for anyone dealing with mental health issues. You will come away with a better understanding of what to look for in yourself, your family and friends and what’s at stake. Even when there’s despair there can also be help and, ultimately, hope.”
ISBN: 9781443455039