Autobiography
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“Five years ago, my 16-year old daughter, Aeryn, took her own life. Even now, those words still don't feel real.
I have found it virtually impossible to separate thoughts and memories of my daughter from the cold, hard, terrifying fact of her death, from the depression that robbed us of her. I want my daughter to be so much more than just a statistic, another suicide in an age of increasing mental health troubles in our society.
But the truth is, for those that didn't know her, she will be defined by her death. And I need to make that count. I need to tell her story.”
Aeryn's diaries provide a frank, brutally honest account of teenage depression, while her haunting yet beautiful poetry paints a graphic picture of her feelings. Interspersed with Facebook posts, email correspondence and her mother's diaries, they document the last few months of her life and the aftermath of her death.
In sharing Aeryn's story, Ellen hopes to help other families going through similar experiences, and to increase understanding of the depth of pain that depression can cause, a pain so deep and all consuming that there appears to be only one way to escape it.
Here's what readers have to say about this book....
This girl was failed by everyone around her. With the right support she could gave been saved. Intense therapy by a competent provider would have given her a better chance. Even in-patient treatment. I have re-read this book again for study, and goodness, what a difficult read that was.
An honest, challenging, deeply personal, treasured read. I can't imagine the strength it would have taken to put it down into a book. It was a privilege to read and it will stay with me.
I'm not sure that the private and deeply personal words of a teen' in despair is appropriate or needed to highlight teenage suicide. I wonder the impact that printing these diaries will have on her siblings? I feel this book would have been just as powerful from a parental perspective, with a second-hand account of their daughters suffering. That way her privacy would remain protected. A very sad outcome to a mental health pandemic. Services need to be more thorough and access to services more readily available. Without these changes suicides will keep occurring in rates that are horrifying.
Review If ever there was a book that I wish with everything that I have didn't have to be published, it is this book. The suffering and pain of both Aeryn and Ellen is absolutely heartbreaking to read. And yet, to read it is so important. The lessons that I can take from the book as a mother, as a teacher, as a carer, are so valuable and precious. What will also truly stay with me, is the immense artistry and beauty of Aeryn's poetry. Such an amazingly gifted poet.
A difficult read. You can feel the anger in this book and at times this comes across as unfinished business between parent and professionals. This title would possibly be relatable and maybe support other parents who have gone or are going through this situation. It left me feeling sad, especially so for the siblings and the impact that this will almost certainly have on them as they grow older.
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