About
Stewart W. Young died on May 31, 2008, of cancer. But prior to that, he dealt with mental illness over a period of years, and one of the things he worked at was writing about it, to let other people know what it was like, and to support others who had mental illness, to let them know they were not alone.
Prior to his death, Stew and I were working on a book together, which we were calling “Borderland: A Life On The Edge,” about our experiences, both his, and mine, as his caretaker. I’ve been told the market for such a book is minimal, given that there isn’t a happy ending (long suffering Stew dies in the end of unrelated cancer), but that doesn’t lessen the need to write it, nor to share it. I also started preliminary work on “The Caretaker’s Survival Guide,” a book about taking care of yourself, so you can take care of others.
Look at the top. See the little headers? “An Uncommon Friendship” is now the book, which is currently undergoing editing. Advice from Stew has . . . advice from Stew. From Other Blogs has links to mental health issues — I welcome any suggestions. Resources has . . . Resources, written by Stew. The Blogroll also has a few reference sites for mental illness issues. I’ll expand and recreate the blog as necessary – it’s experimental and subject to change.
Comments and links are greatly appreciated!
Monique Colver
3/1/2009: If you’d like an email update when additions are made, please send me an email at monique.colver@gmail.com, and I’ll be happy to notify you. It’s going to take quite a while for me to get everything on here!
Notesfromjoblessville said
Hi. I work in a bookstore and there are a ton of non-fiction narratives about mental illness. I have a particular interest in the subject so I’ve read a bunch of ‘em. Skeptic that I am, I waggle my eyebrows at the so called “closures” reached in many of them. From my particular mental health vantage point, “I took my meds, the sun began to shine again and now I’m the CEO!” is just a crock. “I am alive, functioning, and maybe even approaching a satisfying life” is much more like it.
I am sorry that Stew passed, and more sorry that his losing bout with cancer was accompanied by the weighty struggle with mental illness but that’s true life and, for me, more affecting than most of the pap I’ve come across. I hope you won’t be discouraged by the happy-ending naysayers! I’ve read your work since I joined OS, and I look forward to reading “Borderland”.
Keep it real like you always do!
– Notes
ann patrykus said
I’m in awe. See you at OS. PS my wedding dress was purple. Safe to say, one of the fave colors.
Bonnie Brace said
Monique, Please, please don’t listen to the nay sayers about not publishing this amazing story. There are people out thre who need to hear Stu’s story. They need to know tat even though inthe end he died, his life had meaning. His story gives hope That is what it is all about.
I’m the Executive Director of a NAMI affiliate in Berkshire County MA. I can honestly tell you that Stu’s story is one that truely will give others hope and let those who sufer with mental illness know they are not alone.
Please, don’t stop. And when you do actually publish it, contact all the NAMI’s and promote it, go on spaking tours, Tells Stus story… it is on that needs to be told.
I’ve followed him and you on the Banyon tree for a long time…don’t stop!!
B.
Katherine said
I just found this today, and it’s beautiful and so, so sad! I’m so sorry you and he had to go through this. You should totally try and get Borderland published! More people need to know this story.