I like Stacey Dooley's documentaries, I feel she is sensitive to the matter she is discussing/visiting and she has done her research prior to the filming so I requested this as I feel she will have done exactly the same with this and I was not disappointed. This is written so that anyone without an understanding/awareness of mental illnesses can understand what she is talking about and not get overwhelmed with information.
Would highly recommend this to anyone who would like to understand more about what it is like to be a young person with a mental health condition, to see it from their perspective.

A fantastic non fiction book about mental health. This is probably the best one that I have read.
It was so informative.
A must read for everyone

If like me you enjoy Stacey Dooley’s documentaries then you’ll enjoy the style of her writing and this book, I liked the focus on the mental health crisis, even though I was aware of a lot of the issues, it’s still an eye opening and quite upsetting read at points, using input from people with mental health issues and professionals, this book is a great insight and important read.


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Read this book in a day because I was so engrossed in the stories within. This book touches on a lot of mental illnesses and shares real stories to help people understand their own mental health. It was well-researched and I liked the inclusion of the stats and figures to show this. It’s an important book and one I am glad for the opportunity to have read.

I was looking forward to reading this one, having suffered quite badly with mental health myself.

The writing in this book is sublime and so engaging. In this book, you are reading about a topic that can trigger people. But Stacey manages to handle this with great respect, being considerate to readers, but also in an informative way.

I suffer from anxiety, so I am not as well educated with other mental health illnesses, but I felt that I learnt so much more in this book than I expected to.

Mental health is something that is spoken about so much in the world today, but I think that there is still a stigma attached in some part and I love the way that books are addressing this.

Hugely recommend!

A detailed journey into Mental Health with honest conversations with those involved,

Features input from professionals and those suffering. Has really helped start to understand some complex themes and make mental health part of daily conversation.

This was quite an eye-opening book, sometimes upsetting to read but it is real life.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

I was a little worried when I first picked up this book that it was essentially going to be a transcript for Stacey's 'On the Psych Ward' documentaries - and, to be honest, it did cover a lot of the same ground. However, it was still really interesting getting more insight and background information on the people Stacey met during the filming, as well as her overall experience of mental health facilities in the UK. I liked the structure of the book, and that Stacey made an attempt at addressing other factors that can influence our mental health such as poverty, sexuality, race etc. Overall, an interesting and informative read - just be prepared that if you've seen the documentary, there will be some overlap/repetition.

Very different type of book for me but it certainly highlighted the importance of picking up non-fiction reads every so often.

I love Stacey's voice, her journalism style in my opinion has always made harder topics more digestible and this book was no different. It follows a documentary style of writing following various people with mental health disorders.

Something which I very much appreciated was her mention of the effects that various forms of hate crime and social status have on different mental health disorders which is something, not a lot talked about.

A really good insight into the world of Mental Health in true Stacey Dooley style. As well as the usual facts and figures around each different type of mental health conditions the differential is that Stacey allows people to talk in their own words about their own lived experience which is refreshing. An insightful read which compliments the TV series but equally stands on its own.
I highly recommend this to everyone but in particular to anyone who is a Mental Health First Aider and anyone who suffers from any mental health concerns so you know you are not alone.

An absolutely fantastic read.

If you’re a fan of Stacey Dooley’s documentaries then I’m sure you’ll like this book.

Far too often when you’re asked if you’re ok, you respond with yes, fine without actually meaning it. This book is a great insight on mental health and helped me greatly.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I will definitely purchase the hard copy.

GREAT BOOK. MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS MORE FOCUS AND THIS IS A GREAT READ. IT IS SO GREAT TO SEE A CELEBRITY BOOK ON THIS TOPIC

Thanks for the chance to read Stacey Dooley's book early via Netgalley. I really enjoyed her previous book and the further insight that it gave to some of the documentaries I'd watched and to follow up on the characters.

After watching the recent documentaries on Mental Health, it was a real insight to hear more from the people that were part of it and to follow up with them. The regular snippets from health professionals and people affected by mental health made this a read that'll stay with me and I really like the way Stacey handles such serious topics. Suggest reading it if you have watched the documentaries before hand.

How often do you say ‘Yes’ or ‘I’m’ fine when you are asked if you are OK? Are you really OK though? No, no we are not and statistics surrounding mental health problems vouch for that.

Every week, 1 in 10 young people in the UK experience symptoms of a common mental health problem and 1 in 5 have considered taking their own life at some point.

And whilst mental health amongst young people was a concern prior to the pandemic research has found that ‘globally there were estimated to be an extra 76 million cases of anxiety in 2020 than would have been expected if the pandemic hadn’t happened, and 53 million more cases of major depressive disorder, showing just how vital the topic of mental health is now more than ever

In ‘Are You Really OK’ Stacey Dooley, best known for her extraordinary documentaries, opens the conversation around mental health, exploring different conditions such as depression, eating disorders, addiction, OCD, and psychosis. In addition to facts and statistics, each topic is demonstrated through the real experiences and stories of some of the incredible people Stacey met on the wards when filming her documentary in 2020 and 2021.

In addition, to individual conditions Stacey also explores the topic of mental health amongst different social groups such as the LGBT community and the impact of racism and poverty on mental health. This was truly eye-opening and helps us to gain an understanding of mental health through the eyes of different communities within society, as well as a reminder that we can all have an identical experience, but it can impact us all very differently.

The book gives a well-rounded picture of mental health within our society. At no point does Stacey claim to have lived experience or be an expert, which is what makes this book really stand out from others. Instead, she takes us on a journey with her to learn and gain insights on what is happening in the wider world. I feel like this approach makes the book a perfect read for anyone who wants to know more, no matter their knowledge or personal experience.

Overall, a very insightful overview of the topic of mental health. We should all take the time to read this book in hope for a better tomorrow for our young people.

A heartbreaking but very informative and educational insight into the many different forms of mental health.
The way Stacey Dooley has managed to gain the trust of those with their story to share with candour and brutal honesty is at times shocking, but also very poignant. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

A great title for a great book! In this book, Stacey talks about depression, eating disorders, postnatal depression, postnatal psychosis, obsessive compulsive disorder, gambling addiction and psychosis. She also speaks to people who have experienced domestic abuse, as well as those in the LGBTQ+ community who have been discriminated against or abused because of who they are. Finally, Stacey explores how racism and poverty impact on mental health.
The kind of book you will find yourself saying urgently, over and over, to friends: 'Have you read it?

A great read. Really well set out, easy to read and very interesting. Stacey did a great job at interviewing relevant people for this book.

I am an avid watcher of Stacy's phenomenal documentaries and this book is of the same calibre. Extremely informative and personable with Stacey's role emotion and candour. I know I will be recommending this book to all of my friends and family for years to come. A truly exceptional read. Such wonderful hidden walks I am looking forward to exploring thanks to this book. The kindle edition has slightly dodgy formatting, therefore I would recommend the paperback. Nevertheless I cannot wait for my next weekend off to plan a walking trip. A very well written and informative guide. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Stacey Dooley is opening up some interesting discussions around mental health in the UK and this book is an important one. Each chapter covers a different topic of mental health from dealing with gambling addiction to OCD, postnatal illness, depression and more. It really helped me understand more about mental health and there was one chapter which really helped/resonated with me personally. Stacey comes across as very compassionate and I liked the tone of the book. By reporting on and sharing these experiences, we can all learn more about mental health and hopefully care in this area can be further improved.

Oh wow.
This book was such a rollercoaster of emotions. Stacey has produced a beautifully researched insight into various mental health conditions, which was so well written. It didn’t feel intrusive or critical, in fact it just felt as if she wanted these peoples stories to be told. I specifically liked the chapter about post natal depression. As I have experienced that myself, it felt refreshing to not feel alone in it.