Ken Duckworth, MD, Former Chief Medical Officer of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Hosted by Mental Wellness Center and local NAMI for Book Signing and Q &A.
Ken Duckworth, M.D. Courtesy photo.
SANTA BARBARA — Millions of people in the United States are affected by mental illness every year and Santa Barbara is no exception.
Unfortunately, the mental health care system remains chaotic, underfunded and often inaccessible, and many people are asking themselves the same questions: What if my insurance company won’t cover my treatment? Will I have to be on medication my whole life? Will I ever feel better? Am I the only one with this problem?
“You Are Not Alone: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health ? With Advice from Experts and Wisdom from Real People and Families is the answer to the prayers of millions of people who are living with mental illness and their families and friends—who are often unsure how to navigate this system, deal with financial and logistical issues and handle the emotional challenges of mental illness,” said former Santa Barbara County NAMI Board Chair George Kaufmann whose story, along with his son’s is featured in the book.
“You Are Not Alone, NAMI’s first ever book, is here to offer help. Written by Dr. Ken Duckworth with the expertise of a leading psychiatrist and the empathy of a family member affected by mental illness, this comprehensive guide includes stories from over 130 people who have “been there” — including people with mental illness, their families and caregivers — who understand how challenging it can be to find the help you need, when you need it. Their stories are what makes this book different from your typical mental health guide.
The book addresses how to get help, pathways to recovery, the intersection of culture and mental health, and many more important topics to guide any person’s mental health journey. NAMI’s hope is that this guide can help people find that key help and support sooner and make recovery more accessible to those trying to find it. All royalties for the book will go back to NAMI to support our mission to improve the lives of all Americans affected by mental illness.
“This book is about sharing wisdom from those who have been through the mental illness journey,” said Kauffman. “My son Patrick has been my greatest teacher and the more than two decades that he has spent pursuing his recovery has taught me what recovery is and allowed me to share that with others. This has enriched my life in ways I never could have anticipated. The people I have met on this journey have improved my life and given me profound appreciation for those who struggle with mental illness and for those who love them. It was an honor for us to share our story in this invaluable book, “said Kaufmann.
(Read Patrick blog here: https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/September-2022/The-Power-of-Peers-Mutual-Inspiration)
Praise for You Are Not Alone: In this invaluable book, Dr. Duckworth amplifies the voices of real people who have dealt with mental illness, both doctors and patients. His crowd-sourced method will help people facing similar challenges feel connected to a vast community. If you read this book, you cannot feel alone in your struggles.”
– Andrew Solomon, Author of “The Noonday Demon” And “Far from the Tree”
Wonderful and necessary. Dr. Duckworth provides excellent clinical information and practical advice, placing it within the deeply human context provided by those who know firsthand the pain of depression, trauma, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.”
– Kay Redfield Jamison, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and author of “An Unquiet Mind”
Ken Duckworth segment on CBS This Morning https://www.cbsnews.com/video/dr-ken-duckworth-discusses-new-mental-health-book/
About The Author — Ken Duckworth, MD, is the Chief Medical Officer of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and has been the medical director since 2003. He is also assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and an adjunct clinical assistant professor of health and policy management at the Boston University School of Public Health. Dr. Duckworth has served as a board member of the American Association for Community Psychiatry and worked for years as a psychiatrist on an assertive community treatment team. He lives near Boston, Massachusetts.
About Mental Wellness Center — Celebrating 75 years of service to Santa Barbara, the Mental Wellness Center has been a community leader in building hope for individuals and families, providing support in recovery and raising awareness of mental health. This important organization provides mental health education to local students, a residential services program which safely provides a home to more than 100 community members across seven residential sites, and serves individuals and families impacted by mental illness through support groups, employment services, and social connection programs like the Fellowship Club, an on-site social day club and safe space with resources for those working on their mental health and wellness.