Breakthrough

Breakthrough is a collection of poems about a childhood overshadowed by a mother's mental illness. It is about a mother whose untreated postnatal depression gradually deteriorated, leading to her eventual diagnosis as a schizophrenic. These poems explore fear, anger, shame, resentment and rejection that lead to self-recognition, gratitude, hope, love and joy. Breakthrough is a journey of the acceptance of mental illness, the realisation that mental illness is not a choice, the definition of a normal family and society's exclusion of mentally ill people and their families. Breakthrough aims to challenge attitudes and beliefs about mental illness and encourage compassion and kindness.