Are You Really OK by Stacey Dooley

Every week, 1 in 10 young people in the UK experiences symptoms of a common mental health problem, such as anxiety or depression, and 1 in 5 have considered taking their own life at some point. In this book, Stacey Dooley opens up the conversation about mental health in young people, to challenge the stigma and stereotypes around it.
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 .

Are you really OK? I don’t think there’d be too many people who could answer that question with a resounding yes after living through what the 2020’s have given us so far. Now, more than ever, we need to do whatever we can to look after our mental health.

“An international team of researchers published a report in October 2021 showing 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.”

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.

While there are statistics (and some confronting ones at that) and information about potential advances in the future for treating specific mental illnesses, where this book shines is the human element. Stacey interviewed young people living with diagnosed mental illnesses and gave them the opportunity to tell their stories. While she never claims to be an expert herself, Stacey spoke with professionals who treat mental illnesses, some of whom have lived experience.

The insights you are able to get when people feel safe enough to speak candidly about their lives are always going to resonate more than facts and statistics that remove individual people from the narrative. Although I know people with many of the diagnoses covered in this book and have lived experience of others, I learned a lot. I was invested in the stories of the people who shared their story and expect to continue to wonder how they’re doing, particularly Kyle, whose experience with depression was just heart wrenching.

None of us get through life unscathed. Sean, a psychiatrist Stacey spoke to, is helping to destigmatise mental illness. No one is immune to mental health issues, Sean says.

‘But if enough wrong things happen that exceed someone’s ability to cope, no matter how privileged they are, they will get ill’

While that knowledge is somewhat terrifying, it’s also comforting because it removes blame from the person with the illness.

But is there hope? Absolutely.

‘For everyone, no matter how awful the situation you are in, no matter how bad the mental illness or the mental disorder is, it can improve.’

Because Stacey’s approach is so down to earth and she’s so relatable, her documentaries and both of her books have a warmth to them, almost as though you’re seeing friends catching up and talking about some of their most difficult experiences. I’ll definitely be rereading this book.

Content warnings include addiction (alcohol, drug, gambling), bullying, child abuse, domestic abuse, eating disorders, homophobia, mental health, miscarriage, racism, self harm, sexual assault, suicidal ideation and attempts (including the method used) and transphobia.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, BBC Books and Penguin Random House UK, Ebury Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

This was an eye-opening and informative read. I’ve watched many of Stacey’s documentaries and always come away having learnt more, and that’s exactly what happened with this, too.

It’s the perfect book for anyone wanting to learn about mental illness, especially as it’s written in a way that’s easy to understand and grasp. It’s also appropriate for people who need to feel a little less alone in the world with their illness, to know there are people out there going through the same things as they are. Overall, a fantastic resource for people wanting to get a better understanding of mental illness and the way it affects people they love.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author, for a chance to read and review this book.

So, whilst reading this book, I could picture Stacey talking the words to me, which I really liked. This is a hard hitting honest and open read written by Stacey.
I am a huge fan of Stacey, so I am honoured that NetGalley gave me the opportunity to read this book. It really opens your eyes to mental health and the triggers. I definitely know more about it now than I did before reading the book.
There are a couple of snippets of the book which don't sit well with me, but they are another persons opinion and I respect that - we are all different, it would be boring if we were all the same!!
Going back to the various triggers of mental health, the majority of these are just every day things, which could happen to all of us.
I think the people who Stacey spoke to, are absolutely amazing to open up and have their world and troubles out there to raise awareness.
This book also made me cry, which I don't often do with books. Thank you Stacey for a great honest read!

I’m a big fan of Stacey Dooleys writing having recently read her - On the Frontline with Women Who Fight Back - I was really intrigued to see what this would be like. Mental health is a massive concern for society at the moment with the pandemic and lockdown making it even harder for people to seek help and support. Stacey explores a range of topic including lesser known mental health issues and touching on the way that other factors may impact your mental health. It’s both informative and empathetic. Stacey is an engaging person and it always comes across in her writing - it always feels like she’s just having a conversation with you whilst talking about really important topics. So much work needs to be done to destigmatise mental health and increase the support people can access.

A well written and researched book on a prevalent issue in our society. Thanks very much for the eARC.

Such an interesting and important read. Speaking about our mental health is one of the fundamental important things to keep us battling though and this book certainly speaks. Written with Stacey’s familiar tone, it is insightful and filled with knowledge of lots of aspects of Britain’s Mental Health Crisis.
What truly stands out in this book is the real life voices, stories of individual battles from inspirational people.
Thank you, this book was just what I needed to read

I really enjoyed Stacey Dooleys documentaries on mental health and this was just as good if not better. It was brutally honest and I felt every emotion with the people sharing their stories. They let Stacey, and thereby us, into their worlds and struggles with such sincerity and frankness that it is hard not to be moved. This is such a good book and one that everyone should read, everyone will know someone who suffers with their mental health and this book really will help people understand, if not completekly, then at least on an empathetic level.