Seán Coyle, who comments here from time to time with wisdom and charity, edits the
Misyon Magazine, whose purpose is to stimulate awareness of and support for mission and Filipino missionaries.
The current issue carries a short but moving article by Elizabeth Parkes, the daughter of Jackie, about coping with a mother who suffers manic depression. See:
A Daughter’s View on Manic Depression. Jackie herself also has an article entitled
The Agony and the Ecstasy. Many people suffer mental health problems at one time or another and it is good to see such an honest and helpful personal account. Jackie offers a message of hope to others:
I want to say to anyone suffering in a similar way to what I did, even through two or three years of awful agony, that recovery is possible.
Mind have an factsheet which gives a
Young person's guide to mental health.
The current issue carries a short but moving article by Elizabeth Parkes, the daughter of Jackie, about coping with a mother who suffers manic depression. See: A Daughter’s View on Manic Depression. Jackie herself also has an article entitled The Agony and the Ecstasy. Many people suffer mental health problems at one time or another and it is good to see such an honest and helpful personal account. Jackie offers a message of hope to others:
6 comments:
There's a lot of good information in the article, but the tone seems so condescending I had to push myself to finish reading it. As a somewhat young person myself, who has had experiences with mental health issues both in myself and others, the article would do a much better job if it gave a little more credit to the intelligence of its target audience. How many people might dismiss the content because of the wording used?
Thank you for the link to Jackie's article. She is a remarkable woman. It is so useful to read an article like the Agony and the Ecstasy, it raises the hopes of many suffering with mental illness. There are many around suffering, who feel trapped, unable to disclose their true feelings to anyone and worse still, with no faith, unable even to pray.
Thank you Jackie for opening your heart to everyone, it is just such a shame she has ended her blog.
Your mention of Fr. Seán Coyle caught my eye. My wife used to work for Misyon Magazine as an editorial assistant (Fr. Seán was actually the one who officiated our wedding) and he is a wonderful priest. Many thanks for sharing the article and letting people know about Misyon.
Thank you for this post. When Jackie wrote this article originally on her own blog you drew your readers' attention to it. she gladly gave permission for me to use it too.
May God continue to bless your work as a parish priest and as a blogger.
Hello Father Tim! I am Father Sean's assistant editor. Thank you for highlighting Mrs Parkes's story in your blog.
That last part of Elizabeth's article tugs at my heart. I grew up helping my mother who is a seamstress. She didn't have the same illness, but she's always sick even up till today. I remember wanting and wishing I would grow up fast so that I could help her. The best that I could do back then was to stay quiet and did all the house chores.
It has taught me how to dream, and reach for that dream no matter what.
Elizabeth, your article really moved me - you mum is very lucky. I am also blessed with understanding and loving daughters, and a wonderful wife, who "manage" me with patience, intelligence, humour, and forgiveness. Prayers from (manic depressive) me for you and your mum. Not everyone is so fortunate.
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