Published By: Unbound
Pages: 288
Released On: 20/02/2025
Depressed and suicidal, Helen was admitted to a psychiatric ward and sectioned under the Mental Health Act. At her lowest, she almost succeeded in taking her own life. But somehow, she endured and later, she recovered. love lay down beside me and we wept sprang from these emotionally shattering experiences. Amid the horror though, there were moments of pure comedy and unexpected comradeship. And of course, plenty of material for writing.
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Unbound for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
These kind of books, I don’t review them as a book as such, in terms of format or characters etc. instead I review it in terms of how it made me feel.
I liked that we didn’t go straight into the depression side of this story. It has a few chapters of introduction, getting to know Helen as a person and a partner and a doctor, before we get to know her as a mental health patient. And normally I like my books to get right into the action, but I think this was important in order to feel some sort of compassion for her.
I have had my fair share of mental health issues and have not hidden from the fact I took an overdose last year, and so some bits were definitely a bit close to home. But I struggle to put into words how I feel at times, and so I enjoyed reading Helen’s words on it. It was comforting in a way. I mean, I wish no-one has to experience these things, but hearing that someone else has makes you feel a little less alone.
She hasn’t hidden anything. It’s very raw and honest, and some bits are difficult to read. But it is an important read, especially when trying to navigate the stresses of a highly important job.
It’s a sad look at how overachieving can impact your whole life. That anything other than top of the class success makes you a failure. But #it’s the opposite in my view. Failing, admitting you can’t do something, putting your health before anything else, that’s not failing, that’s bravery and success in a different form.
It is quite worrying the quantity of doctors and medical staff who end up having severe mental health issues. We often think that doctors are immune to health issues like this, because they’re the ones we rely on to make us better.
I actually contacted Helen once I’d finished this to explain to her just how much it meant to me, and I sent her the final paragraph of this review:
As someone who thinks of suicide fairly regularly, and even attempted it, I think this book is a godsend. It is beautiful, tragic, sad, and heart wrenching – but it’s beautiful and raw and honest and like a love story, and not to sound corny but it is a life saver. Anyone who has ever had those kind of thoughts, I’m not saying this book will stop you having them, but it’ll make sure you know you’re not alone, and sometimes that’s all we need, to know there’s someone with you.
Books By Your Bedside 