Will You Read This, Please?: Life-changing stories edited by the Sunday Times bestseller

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Neither HarperCollins nor The Borough Press will be able to return any submissions, so please make sure you have a copy stored safely before you submit. In this book, adults living with a variety of mental health conditions discuss their histories, their diagnoses, and their lived experience of having this condition. They have submitted their stories to a matched writer, who creates a dialogue of what they have been through, and as per the introduction, Dr Joanna Cannon, herself a psychiatrist, has insisted the individuals whose testimonies make up the book, are paid the same rate as the authors themselves. Some people who deal with mental illness have the opportunity and ability to write about it, but many do not – and it was those people, those unread stories, I wanted to find’ JOANNA CANNON I have a few candidates ready to have interviews with you. Let me know if this works for you and when you can do it. This is my last journal entry to my therapist, and in our session, after reading these notes, he suggested the marriage proposition to make the relationship more ‘stable’:

No correspondence between The Borough Press or HarperCollins and the entrants can be entered into, unless at The Borough Press’s request, and we will not be able to respond to unsolicited communications. Under no circumstances will HarperCollins be responsible for any loss, damages, costs or expenses arising from or in any way connected with any errors, defects, interruptions, or delays in the promotion, and HarperCollins You have a scheduled appointment at five today. Please respond to let me know that you’re prepared for it. The home we live in is a large family home of 5 bedrooms that I was expected to prepare for guests, clean, tidy and maintain most of the time. I wonder if some could have done just as well by themselves. Some I am confident could not.... yet... and possibly my question is a tribute to the skill of the established writers. The participants put themselves forward and I am impressed with the selection depicting a wide range of conditions which have had a severe impact on the sufferers' (and they have suffered) lives and on the lives of those around them. More than that we see the relevance of circumstances, how the competence and decency of family, friends, professionals and 'the system' can make a significant difference one way or another and how much misery may have been totally avoidable.

Edited by Joanna Cannon, the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep , Three Things About Elsie and A Tidy Ending , the stories told here are powerful, resonant and heart-breaking. This is a ground-breaking and unforgettable collection, shining a light on the stigma and isolation of living with mental illness, while also showing the strength and resilience of the human spirit. He brushed it off, saying let's talk about it tomorrow now let's have a sleep together. And invited me in bed with him. Entries can be made by sending a completed entry form to: [email protected]

Cannon’s book is a labour of love and deserves to be read by as wide an audience as possible” - DAILY MIRROR Entrants must at some point have experienced a mental health condition, and, if chosen, will need to provide a letter from their primary carer or GP certifying that they are currently suitable to participate in the project. What I liked about it, is it didn't just focus on the obvious depression and anxiety. Yes, they were in there, of course, as well as self-harm and suicidal tendencies. But some of these stories are more niche. We read about a man with a gambling addiction, a woman with a paralysing fear of vomiting, a man who is subjected to conversion therapy to rid him of his homosexuality, and an individual who has to hide their gender identity. My partner is the sole bread winner in the family, (I have quit my job during pregnancy with the view to return to work once nursery starts) and because he believes in ‘traditional’ family values- he feels the entire responsibility of housekeeping and childcare relies entirely and solely on me. He was raised in such a household himself.The essays all have different, distinct voices; but they're personal, conversational and easily laid out in accessible sections. Some of them felt linear and structured, some strings of thoughts - but all of them invoked a deep sense of companionship and a shared understanding. I’m posting this because I am desperately needing reassurance so that I feel strong in my decision moving forward. Please, please help. While many of the experiences are ubiquitous, the diversity of accounts covers specific issues such as, for Sanmeet, the need to find a therapist of colour to whom she could talk 'without explanation, caveats and disclaimers.' and Lewis' frustrations with the fact that support for gambling addiction is still largely focused on casinos and betting shops, despite many people accessing gambling online now. It works best when dealing with sensitive information or information that needs someone’s attention. Please” is used instead of “kindly” here (in “kindly confirm”). Both phrases are polite, allowing you to use either option, depending on your preference.