Revolutionizing Mental Health One Story at a Time This Holiday Season

BARRIE, Ontario - Dec. 5, 2018 - PRLog -- The holiday season can be stressful at the best of times, and taking care of your physical as well as your mental health can be a challenge. Personal and cultural stigmatization can cause those suffering to close down and isolate. The greatest weapon against mental health stigma is sharing your story.

Wintertickle Press is blowing open the door on mental health stigma with their newest anthology, Brainstorm Revolution. The book, brainchild of Courtney Taylor, Natalie Harris, and Heather Down, is a collection of powerful and creative first-person true stories that allow a glimpse into the life of those who suffer from mental health challenges and into the minds of those who strive for mental wellness. The universal themes of love, loss, and triumph make this a fascinating read for anybody, making it a great holiday gift.

There are just under 40 contributors to this work, including people from a wide variety of ages and occupations—from city councillors to veterans to TEDx presenters to high school students to recipients of the Order of Canada. Micheal Landsberg, former host of TSN's Off the Record and founder of Sick Not Weak; Deb McGrath, comedian and actor; and Stephane Grenier, mental health advocate and author of After the War: Surviving PTSD and Changing Mental Health Culture have also graciously given their stories to this unprecedented project.

The book is divided into three chapters: Love, Evolution, and Revolution. Love features stories of acceptance and kindness. Evolution is a chapter about personal turning points and shifts of perspective. Revolution shares stories of change-makers who influence our society as a whole. All of these short, slice-of-life stories hit on a wide variety of topics including: anxiety, depression, kindness, acceptance, bipolar disorder, transgender, psychotic breaks, self-care, suicide, addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, attention deficit disorder, autism, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, grief, fear of abandonment, service dogs, coping strategies, change in legislation, fundraising, equine assisted learning, LGBTQ, postpartum depression, trauma, and war.

Although these topics may seem heavy, the book focusses on positive change and growth, leaving the reader with a strong sense of optimism and hope. Professional writer Teresa Hedley reiterates this point when she says, "I felt two things I didn't know I could feel at the same time—weighted and buoyed. The collection takes you in both directions. And in the end, I felt changed, enlightened. Like I had walked in naive and come out of it wiser and inspired."

Retired Corporal Matthew Heneghan, a former medic in the Canadian Armed Forces, talks about Brainstorm Revolutionin his podcast A Medic's Mind, "When you are reading someone's story, it's not like you are reading someone's story. It is as though they are sitting down with you, telling you their story, telling you their experiences. That's a rare read when you can pick up a book and have the book read itself to you."

To celebrate the publication, Wintertickle Press is currently scheduling Ontario book signings. The list is quickly expanding, so please check Wintertickle Press on social media for the most up-to-date information. Currently, January bookings are as follows:

January 6, 2019 Chapters Vega, Mississauga 11-4 pm
January 12, 2019 Chapters Brampton, 11–4 pm
January 26, 2019 Chapters South Keys, Ottawa 11-4 pm

The book is currently available through Indigo, Amazon, and select independent bookstores.

Title: Brainstorm Revolution: True Mental Health Stories of Love, Personal Evolution, and Cultural Revolution
Authors: Heather Down, Natalie Harris, Courtney Taylor et. al.
Publisher: Wintertickle Press
Format/Trim Size: Softcover 6 x 9 inches
ISBN: 978-1-894813-95-2
Price: $25.95

https://www.amazon.ca/Brainstorm-Revolution-personal-evol...

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/brainstorm-rev...