So-Called Normal

In honour of World Mental Health Day on October 10, and one year since holding the first physical copy of his book, Mark Henick reads a new excerpt from So-Called Normal: A Memoir of Family, Depression and Resilience. So-Called Normal (the book) is published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd and available now worldwide in paperback, ereader, and audiobook formats.

Mark Henick reads an excerpt from his new book, So-Called Normal: A Memoir of Family, Depression, and Resilience, published by HarperCollins. Mark originally shared this excerpt in print on Psychology Today, in an article titled "My First Night in a Psych Ward". This episode is the first time he has given a public reading and reflection of the book himself.

So-Called Normal is available everywhere now: https://www.amazon.ca/So-Called-Normal-Memoir-Depression-Resilience/dp/1443455032/

This wraps up our 5-episode limited series on complex care pathways for treatment resistant depression. Mark and Dave chat about what they've learned, the strength of all the participants, and the necessary work of sharing stories. Thank you to Janssen Canada for providing the educational grant which made this possible. So-Called Normal will be taking a little break, but we've got more in-depth conversations coming soon!

Jenn is a storyteller. She shares with Mark the stories of her childhood, her worry and anxiety, and her long journey through mental illness. She continues to navigate her recovery, including both the expense of treatment and the boundaries of family understanding. Still, thanks in part to journaling and eventually finding intervention that worked, she's come a long way.

Dr. Christina Iglesia and Dr. Jennifer Swainson return to examine the complexities of mental health, diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

The final installment of the So-Called Normal limited series on treatment resistant depression will continue next week. Mark will speak with Jenn about her complex pathway and recovery from long-term depression. This week, Mark and Dave chat about anxiety, honouring kids' emotions, the role that families play in recovery, and how the medical system handles individual people.

Thomas was a high-performer in the pressure-packed restaurant industry. He was constantly working, even when he wasn't at work. Then, it all came crashing down. It was a long, unsustainable road that culminated in a severe mental illness. It caused him to reevaluate his life, and to navigate the complex process of becoming more mentally healthy. Thomas's journey taught him many lessons about recovery, resilience, and hope that he now eagerly shares to inspire others.

The next installment of the So-Called Normal limited series on treatment resistant depression will continue next week, in a conversation with Thomas. This week, Mark and Dave have a short chat about the episode to come, stress and mental illness in the restaurant industry, and a bit about the nature of driven, creative types. 

On this next installment of our limited So-Called Normal series on treatment-resistant depression, Mark speaks with Natasha about her long journey to recovery and the lessons that she learned along the way. Like many, given the confusing and overwhelming mental healthcare system, she learned important skills for both her own self-care and her ability to advocate for herself, as well as to find those who support her.  

Mark talks with Dave Trafford about next week's episode of So-Called Normal, featuring Natasha.

Shelley tried more than 20 different medications, and spent considerable resources as she navigated her mental health challenges over the years. She tells us about her road to recovery in this second So-Called Normal episode in our five-part mini-series exploring complex care pathways for treatment-resistant depression. Psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Swainson and clinical psychologist Dr. Christina Iglesia are back with expert commentary on some of the issues we address. Listen in as we explore Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, resetting the brain, and the lengths to which people will go to find relief.