Tell Me I'm Here

Tell Me I'm Here is a memoir by Australian journalist Anne Deveson about her experience raising her son Jonathan, who developed schizophrenia as a teenager. The book follows their journey through the mental health system in Australia during the 1980s. Deveson documents the progression of Jonathan's illness and its impact on their family dynamics, while also examining the broader social and medical responses to mental illness. She intersperses her personal narrative with research and interviews about schizophrenia, creating a work that functions as both memoir and investigation. Through detailed observations and frank discussion, Deveson presents the daily realities of caring for someone with severe mental illness while continuing to work as a single mother. The narrative tracks the cyclical nature of Jonathan's condition and the family's ongoing search for effective treatment and support. This memoir explores themes of maternal love, institutional failures, and society's treatment of mental illness, while challenging prevalent misconceptions about schizophrenia. The work stands as both a personal testament and a broader commentary on mental health care.

Readers describe this memoir about schizophrenia as raw, honest, and informative. The book resonates particularly with families who have experienced mental illness. Readers appreciated: - The unflinching portrayal of caring for someone with schizophrenia - Clear explanations of how mental health systems work (or don't work) - The balance between personal narrative and factual information - The mother's perspective and emotional journey Common criticisms: - Some sections feel repetitive - The timeline can be confusing to follow - A few readers found it too emotionally difficult to finish Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (214 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (23 ratings) Sample reader comment: "As the sibling of someone with schizophrenia, this book helped me understand what my parents went through." - Goodreads reviewer Several mental health professionals recommend it to families dealing with schizophrenia diagnoses.

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The Center Cannot Hold by Elyn R. Saks A law professor reveals her life with schizophrenia while maintaining her academic career and professional identity.

Gorilla and the Bird by Zack McDermott A public defender recounts his experience with bipolar disorder and his mother's unconditional support through multiple psychotic episodes.

Henry's Demons by Patrick Cockburn, Henry Cockburn A father and son provide dual perspectives on the family's experience with schizophrenia through alternating chapters.

📖 Anne Deveson's son Jonathan, whose schizophrenia is chronicled in the book, was also a gifted writer and artist before his illness took hold at age 17. 🎬 The author was a pioneering Australian broadcaster and filmmaker, who used her media platform to destigmatize mental illness after writing this memoir. 🏆 "Tell Me I'm Here" won the Human Rights Non-Fiction Award and became a cornerstone text in Australian mental health literature. 💔 Jonathan died by suicide at age 24 in 1986, and Deveson turned her grief into advocacy, helping establish SANE Australia, a mental health charity. 🌏 The book has been translated into multiple languages and is used in medical schools to help future doctors understand the family experience of schizophrenia.