In today's world, there is mental illness all around us. At the heart of that is often a caregiver offering their support to a loved one who is struggling.
K.T. Griffiths knows all too well. Her daughter has been struggling with her mental health for years.
"It started when she was very young. There were some neighbourhood boys. They were playing hide and seek and things like that, and then something happened from there," Griffiths explained.
This led K.T.'s daughter to suffer from anxiety and depression. A battle she continues to fight to this day.
"It turns into a spiritual thing where you're kind of stopped at that age level," said Griffiths."In her lifespan of where she's at now, she still can go back to that child where she was first hurt. Sometimes it's hard to move past that."
K.T. says every day, news headlines and daytime television programs share a myriad of stories attempting to normalize issues of mental health. She says doctors align mental health conditions with other health crises such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, leaving those battling this illness and their families to suffer in silence and isolation.
K.T. is sharing her family's story in her new book, Shhh….Mental Illness: The Silent Disease.
She says this book is an intimate memoir designed to bring hope and community to caregivers of those battling mental illness.
"So often, caregivers suffer in silence," said K.T. "As a mother who is challenged by the chaos and unknowns of mental illness, I wanted to offer wisdom and hope to parents, children, spouses, and siblings who may feel alone helping their loved one battle this disease."
Based on K.T.’s journals, Shhh… explores the rollercoaster ride of mental illness and provides valuable insights into coping with the shock, anger, and devastation of this challenging disease. Sharing her heart of loving a child battling mental illness, the book argues there is always beauty amid the broken and that brighter days are ahead.
Today on Connections, K.T. shares her family's story and how she has managed to hang on through it all.