By ANEEKA SIMONIS
INSPIRING courage and action in teens suffering from mental health problems is the goal set by a Warburton author in her latest release.
Bent But Not Broken is a book that removes the stigma attached to mental illness and encourages young people to seek specialist care by Elizabeth Margaret, who spent years facing the same struggle.
“Mental health amongst the adolescent age group is terrifying )but) teens are unwilling to seek appropriate care when it comes to mental health.
“The book helps people in the middle of a hard time find the courage to talk to a friend or seek professional help,” Ms Margaret said.
Writing with years of experience, Ms Margaret (who publishes under a pseudonym) has worked in youth care for over 40 years as well as looked after “flocks” of damaged foster care children.
Her urgency to help comes from her troubled past as a victim of sexual abuse.
Exposed in her debut release, Daddy’s Girl, she hopes this story of trauma and recovery will inspire others to make the same positive turn around.
“I know from my work that the sexual abuse and neglect of children is still happening.
“The harm that is done will always leave a scar but it doesn’t have to define you,” she said.
Ms Margaret said mental health practitioners had commended Bent But Not Broken, saying it was “an inspired way to open up the conversation about mental health” and clarify the difference between being sad and depressed.
An author of two years, Ms Margaret’s book can be purchased on Amazon and eBook.
In the making is her third book, Flawed Jade, which pulls the veil on institutional abuse and the country’s system of care for kids in crisis at foster homes.
