NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSIONER LUCINDA BROGDEN TO SPEAK AT IMPORTANT BOOK LAUNCH ON MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE
Sydney, 10 March 2016 – National Mental Health Commissioner, Lucinda Brogden, will appear at the launch of Marrying Bipolar on Friday 1st April, 2016 at Dymocks’ flagship store in Sydney.
Marrying Bipolar, written by Sydneysider Natasha David, is the account of a wife’s struggle to understand the events in her husband’s life that would eventually lead to their marriage breakdown and his suicide. The book launch date has been carefully chosen, as it will mark 16 years since their wedding; a fitting bookmark in her journey with her husband through their denial of his undiagnosed mental illness.
The parallels between Mrs Brogden and Ms David’s personal experience are truly remarkable. Each of their husbands attempted suicide on the same winter day – 30 August 2005 – Natasha’s husband would not survive his attempt. Her husband John, at the time NSW Opposition Leader, has opened up a national discussion around mental health and suicide. Mr Brogden is currently the Chairman of Lifeline and Chief Executive of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
“Watching my husband struggle with the complexity of mental illness, along with going through grief, anxiety and situational depression myself in the wake of his suicide, has helped me to understand the deadly role denial has to play, for both sufferers and partners,” said Natasha.
Mrs Brogden, who is also Patron of both Partners in Depression and Lifeline Northern Beaches, has a strong commitment to helping others and building stronger communities, with her primary focus being issues of Mental Health and wellbeing.
Notably, her husband’s opinion piece in the Sydney Morning Herald on 31 August 2015 called suicide the “national emergency we can no longer ignore”. The column appeared on the 10-year anniversary of his suicide attempt and in that time, at least 23,500 Australians have committed suicide. The number of people suiciding in Australia is increasing – in 10 years the number has increased by 20 per cent.
“Suicide is not an isolated event. It touches the whole community, family, friends. The more we understand mental illness, the better equipped we are to help our communities and to save lives,” said Mrs Brogden.
Thanks to their profile, the Brogdens have successfully campaigned to create a turning point in the understanding of mental illness and have reframed the discussion around depression.
Marrying Bipolar aims to widen the conversation to include supporters of those suffering mental health issues. Natasha did find meaning and compassion to heal and rebuild her life and hopes her story can inspire others.
Book Launch Event Details
Date: Friday 1st April 2016
Time: 6 – 8pm
Venue: Dymocks Sydney, 422 George St
Register your complimentary tickets to the book launch
Marrying Bipolar, written by Sydneysider Natasha David, is the account of a wife’s struggle to understand the events in her husband’s life that would eventually lead to their marriage breakdown and his suicide. The book launch date has been carefully chosen, as it will mark 16 years since their wedding; a fitting bookmark in her journey with her husband through their denial of his undiagnosed mental illness.
The parallels between Mrs Brogden and Ms David’s personal experience are truly remarkable. Each of their husbands attempted suicide on the same winter day – 30 August 2005 – Natasha’s husband would not survive his attempt. Her husband John, at the time NSW Opposition Leader, has opened up a national discussion around mental health and suicide. Mr Brogden is currently the Chairman of Lifeline and Chief Executive of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
“Watching my husband struggle with the complexity of mental illness, along with going through grief, anxiety and situational depression myself in the wake of his suicide, has helped me to understand the deadly role denial has to play, for both sufferers and partners,” said Natasha.
Mrs Brogden, who is also Patron of both Partners in Depression and Lifeline Northern Beaches, has a strong commitment to helping others and building stronger communities, with her primary focus being issues of Mental Health and wellbeing.
Notably, her husband’s opinion piece in the Sydney Morning Herald on 31 August 2015 called suicide the “national emergency we can no longer ignore”. The column appeared on the 10-year anniversary of his suicide attempt and in that time, at least 23,500 Australians have committed suicide. The number of people suiciding in Australia is increasing – in 10 years the number has increased by 20 per cent.
“Suicide is not an isolated event. It touches the whole community, family, friends. The more we understand mental illness, the better equipped we are to help our communities and to save lives,” said Mrs Brogden.
Thanks to their profile, the Brogdens have successfully campaigned to create a turning point in the understanding of mental illness and have reframed the discussion around depression.
Marrying Bipolar aims to widen the conversation to include supporters of those suffering mental health issues. Natasha did find meaning and compassion to heal and rebuild her life and hopes her story can inspire others.
Book Launch Event Details
Date: Friday 1st April 2016
Time: 6 – 8pm
Venue: Dymocks Sydney, 422 George St
Register your complimentary tickets to the book launch