New children’s book tackles mental health conversations early

A GEELONG author is helping families start conversations about mental health with a new children’s book designed to make complex topics easier to understand.

Daniel Neal has released the first title in his Ums and Ahs series, Ums & Ahs for Sadness, aimed at opening discussion between adults and children in a way that is accessible and free from stigma.

Neal, who lives with schizophrenia and complex PTSD, said the idea grew from his own experience of mental illness not being openly discussed growing up.

“The idea is it should become a tool to open discussion between adults and children about mental health topics,” Neal said.

“I grew up in a household where mental illness was present, but it wasn’t really talked about until I got diagnosed with schizophrenia, so I wanted to make sure new parents could start talking to their kids about mental health.”

Each book in the series is designed to support both children and adults, and provides information and topics to guide discussion. The name Ums and Ahs stands for “understanding mental struggles and addressing helpful solutions”.

While the first book focuses on sadness, Neal is already working on future titles exploring anxiety, panic, psychosis, OCD, self-esteem and grief.

“There’s a lot of really, really good topics coming out,” he said. “I’ve been given great ideas from people I am meeting about different mental illnesses and I want to make it known that we can live with it and not struggle.”

Neal said reducing stigma is essential to support people living with mental illness now and in the future.

“When people understand what’s happening to me in those moments, they can help me out a lot easier,” he said.

“The book is for children to notice sadness in themselves, but it’s also about noticing sadness in other children and in adults.

“It’s not just about kids exploring their own emotions but being able to recognise them in their parents, or their educators too.”

The idea for the series came to Neal while contemplating how he might one day explain mental illness to his children.

Seeing a gap in resources aimed at younger audiences, he decided to create one himself. Early feedback has reinforced the need for that approach.

“I’ve had lots of people say ‘I wish I had this book when I was a kid’, which is sad but it’s nice to know I am writing something that will help people,” Neal said.

Neal experienced a mental health episode on the day of the book’s launch. He said it reinforced the importance of the conversations he is trying to encourage.

He worked with local illustrator Justine Martin to bring the story to life and hopes to continue the collaboration as the series grows.

Ums & Ahs for Sadness is available online via Neal’s website and Amazon.