Investigating Your Family, Uncovering Shame and Secrecy

Investigative reporter and Columbia University journalism
professor Meg Kissinger has, for many years, specialized in
uncovering the catastrophic state of mental health care in
America, particularly in Milwaukee, where she has lived for many
years. Recently, she used that reporter’s tenacity in learning
and telling the story of her own family of origin in her book
While You Were Out: An Intimate Family Portrait of Mental
Illness in an Era of Silence.


Meg grew up in a suburban Chicago Catholic family with two
parents, seven siblings, and a number of mental health issues
that were never acknowledged or discussed. Through her
investigation, Meg learned new information about family suicides,
psychiatric hospitalizations, and more of the things that never
got talked about when they were happening. She offers some tips
if you want to do some investigating of your own.


Get your copy of While You Were Out wherever books
are sold. Learn more about Meg Kissinger and her work by visiting
her website, www.MegKissinger.com.


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Help is available right away.


The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255,
1-800-273-TALK


Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741.


International suicide hotline numbers available
here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines


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John’s acclaimed memoir, The Hilarious World of Depression, is
now available in
paperback. https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250209566/thehilariousworldofdepression


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