The Other Side of Silence
A Psychiatrist's Memoir of Depression
- Imprint: Vie
- Format: Paperback
- Pages: 272
- Price: £9.99
- Publication date: 10 September 2015
- ISBN: 9781849537544
About the book
‘If we had a keen vision and feeling of all ordinary human life, it would be like hearing the grass grow and the squirrel’s heart beat, and we should die of that roar which lies on the other side of silence.’
George Eliot, Middlemarch
Having spent her life trying to patch up the souls of others, psychiatrist Linda Gask came to realise that being an expert in depression didn’t confer any immunity from it – she had to learn take care of herself, too. Artfully crafted and told with warmth and honesty, this is the story of Linda’s journey, interwoven with insights into her patients’ diverse experiences of depression -inextricably linked with problems in the past and the present such as vulnerability, fear, loss, loneliness, dependence and grief. She sets out to convey, in a new and original way, how it truly feels to experience this devastating illness, what psychotherapy is about, and the role of medication- and provides hope for those who suffer from depression and their loved ones whilst busting the stigma of mental illness.
Reviews
'it completely captivated me. I couldn’t put it down. What a compelling life story'
Canadian Medical Association Journal Blog
'This is an exceptional book and should be read by many, both doctors and patients.'
BJPsych Bulletin, British Journal of Psychiatry
‘What is exceptional in this volume is the absolute sanity of its project. It is one of the least mad books on madness imaginable, and it most essentially promotes hopefulness in spite of its tales of real despair and disorientation.’
BMJ Medical Humanities Journal Blog
‘The Other Side of Silence is a must read for those experiencing or interested in depression, and all who are training and working in psychiatry'
Fenella Lemonsky The Lancet Psychiatry
‘a remarkable memoir.’
The Morning Star
‘I highly recommend The Other Side of Silence if you want a real account and contemporary understanding of depression, particularly with the supporting knowledge of a medical perspective.’
Rosie Claverton Blog
‘I really feel books like ‘The Other Side of Silence’ help demystify mental health… I always recommend such books to new staff as a “way in” to understanding mental health and mental illness. We now have another book on the shelf to help us open up conversations about “madness”.’
Vanessa Pinfold, Research Director at the McPin Foundation
‘A brave piece of writing’
Purple Persuasion Blog
‘Linda is a brave and brilliant woman’
Kate Figes, Books Editor, YOU Magazine
People who have been depressed, or lived with depression in the family, will recognise the self-doubt, the gnawing anxiety and the brave public face, though not all reach the self-acceptance that she finally manages. Linda Gask has achieved something unusual: a book about depression that is both personal and scientifically sound.
Louis Appelby,Former Director of Mental Health in England
Brave, bold and poignant – but above all a first in bringing together the intricate web and weave of being simultaneously a doctor, a patient and an academic.
Professor Dame Susan Bailey, Royal College of Psychiatrists
Honest, vivid, powerful… anyone who has struggled with what are called ‘common mental health problems’ will identify with this book.
Carolyn Chew-Graham, GP and Professor of General Practice Research, University of Keele