love lay down beside me and we wept

A profoundly moving, lyrical memoir of one woman’s physical and psychological breakdown.

‘Uplifting, never maudlin, and written with real kick. Helen is a brilliant anatomist of her own turbulent struggle’ Alan Warner, author of The Stars in the Bright Sky

Depressed and suicidal, medical doctor and research scientist Helen was admitted to a psychiatric ward and sectioned under the Mental Health Act. At her lowest, she almost succeeded in taking her own life. But somehow, she endured and later recovered. 

love lay down beside me and we wept sprang from these emotionally shattering experiences. Amid the horror though, there were moments of pure comedy and unexpected comradeship. And of course, plenty of material for writing.

This is a moving and masterful account of one woman's physical and psychological catastrophe. It's a tribute to the love that supported her through it, and it's an offering to the reader who might find comfort or understanding in her story.

‘A courageous and intelligent book’ Elissa Soave, author of Ginger and Me

‘This book is a compelling case for the redemptive possibilities of writing’ Andy West, author of The Life Inside

‘How Helen manages to convey her awful mental health experiences with such a light touch without shying away from the difficult stuff is truly remarkable’ Sharon Sweeney, Group Features Director, Woman & Home

Hardback: 288pp

Published: Wilton Square

ISBN: 9781800183483