This is a review from the Like Minds Like Mine newsletter:
Mt. Maunganui (New Zealand) psychologist Janet Peters, who has been involved with the New Zealand Mental Health Foundation's Like Minds Like Mine programme for over 13-years, has published her first children’s book, Jemma’s Journey..
This beautifully illustrated book was written to help children who have a parent with mental health issues and is dedicated to Janet’s mother, Marie Peters. Janet says: “When I was a child and mum ‘disappeared’ to Tokanui hospital, my brother and I were told very little and we were both confused and missing our mother so much. I always thought it would be good to help other kids in a similar situation. Hospitals are now closed (a good thing!) but parents can still get unwell and can need respite. The great thing that came out of this is my real passion for communicating mental health info for people”.
As the Mental Health Foundation recently found out, Jemma’s Journey is filling a need for many people who struggle to explain experiences of mental illness to the children in their lives.
The organisation recently offered 15 copies to their Facebook supporters and was inundated with replies. Among the many heartfelt responses was this one:
“I 'need' a copy for my wonderful 7 year old son. He's so kind and loving, writes me love notes and makes me things out of coloured card when I'm not doing too well. But I don't know how to explain in an effective way what is wrong and it really hurts me for him to see me 'not well'.”
You can purchase your own copy of Jemma’s Journey – both Kindle and soft copy – from Amazon.com or email j.jeanes@xtra.co.nz if you are in New Zealand – $20.00 plus postage and packaging.
Janet Peters was the Like Minds Like Mine programme’s first national manager (from 1999 –2000), and also works as an advisor for the TV advertising campaign, as well as supporting those who share their stories on national television and on Like Minds and the National Depression Initiative (NDI) website videos.
