Books / Alice Hoyle
Rethink member writes book on mental illness
Rethink Bristol member, Alice Hoyle, has released her debut children’s story Pretend Friends about what life is like for those who hear voices or have other hallucinations or delusions as a result of mental illness.
Rethink are a charity based at St Paul’s and provide expert, accredited advice and information to everyone affected by mental health problems.
This full colour story book, illustrated by Lauren Reis, about mental illness follows Little Bea and Big Jay and their pretend friends. Little Bea is little and has fun and adventures with her friend Nye Nye. Big Jay does not have the same luck with his and people react very differently to both while we read on. We learn how life becomes quite hard for Big Jay because of his friends who aren’t really there.
is needed now More than ever
The story is appropriate for children aged four and above and it describes why Big Jay’s auditory and visual hallucinations are very different to the enjoyable imaginary friends many children create. It also explains some of the things that may help people like Big Jay.
Hoyle wrote the story for her own children to help explain serious mental illness. She wanted to support children to develop their understanding about mental health, to help increase empathy and reduce stigma and discrimination that people with serious mental illness often face.
All royalties from Pretend Friends are donated to the charity in order to help raise money and awareness for the work of Rethink.
Pretend Friends is now available for purchase.
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