Cutting its way through the media frenzy and over-sentimentality surrounding the mental health crisis, this is a book of loving logic which puts emotional well-being and resilience centre stage.
Without suggesting any hierarchy of significance, Gillian Bridge has put together a list of those problems which seem to be most frequently cited as sources of mental distress. These include stress, loneliness, anxiety, depression, body image (including eating disorders), social media, substance abuse, behavioural disorders, perfectionism, academic pressures and bullying.
Her book looks at how these issues have led to apparently insurmountable emotional problems, and takes a few potshots at some of the things that have contributed to turning life events that may, at other times or in other places (perhaps more resilient ones?), have been little more than nuisances or inconveniences into sources of genuine psychic pain.
Packed with realistic and effective takeaway strategies for parents and educators, Sweet Distress challenges under-researched but over-promoted ideology and provides real, evidence-based help and advice for anyone wanting to improve the mental health of those they care about.
