Hold on Tight: A Parent's Journey Raising Children with Mental Illness

by Jan Stewart

Jan Stewart never thought she would live with fear in her own house. Hold on Tight: A Parent’ s Journey Raising Children with Mental Illness describes her raw and emotional journey raising two children with multiple mental health disorders. Jan details the roller coaster lives and challenges that both children have faced in detail, from the time they were born to the present as young adults in their 30s. Pulling no punches, Jan describes moments of terrifying fear, pain, and hopelessness, as well as of awe, pride, and hope. The roller coaster ride never stops.
While brutally honest, Hold on Tight is a love song to Jan’ s children. The book educates and empowers parents so that both they and their children can lead more fulfilling lives. Healthcare professionals, as well as families, friends, educators, employers, and others who
interact with these families, get an inside look into the lives and unique perspectives of these parents. Compelling parental advice includes:
• Trust your gut.
• Persevere in identifying the right professionals, diagnoses, and treatments.
• Insist on an integrated partnership approach with all those involved in each child’ s care.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

224 pages, Hardcover

First published March 8, 2023

About the author

Award-winning author Jan Stewart is a highly regarded mental health and neurodiversity governance expert and advocate. Her brutally honest memoir Hold on Tight: A Parent’s Journey Raising Children with Mental Illness, a recipient of the prestigious Mom's Choice Award®, describes her emotional roller coaster story parenting two children living with multiple mental health disorders. She also gifts parents with key insights to help them optimize their own lives, as well as the lives of their children. Her mission is to inspire parents to persevere, as well as to better educate their families, friends, health care professionals, educators and employers. Jan chairs the Board of Directors at Kerry’s Place Autism Services, Canada’s largest autism services provider, and was previously Vice Chair at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. She spent most of her career as a senior Partner with the global executive search firm Egon Zehnder. Jan is a Diamond Life Master in bridge and enjoys fitness, genealogy and dance.

Reviews

[Katharina Manassis · Rating 5 out of 5]

After living what she describes as “an idyllic life” for years, Jan and her husband suddenly find themselves facing overwhelming challenges raising two children with significant mental illnesses. Honest and gripping, this memoir describes a family’s journey from cradle to adulthood with their struggling yet special youngsters.
Jan’s factual, unsentimental style is refreshing, despite the heartbreaking emotions that undoubtedly accompanied these experiences. A particular value for parents is the description of how her children navigated, and continue to navigate, the transition to adulthood. Their perseverance is admirable. Some options pursued by this family are not available to the less affluent, to single parents, or to those living outside large metropolitan areas, but this is readily acknowledged in the book. What impressed me most was the confidence with which Jan often proceeded to bypass “the system” and go straight to the top on behalf of her children, seeking out the best and quickly dismissing unhelpful professionals or interventions. Many parents (myself included) could benefit from this highly assertive approach. Overall, a very engaging memoir and an excellent contribution to the mental health parenting literature.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the short chapters... critical to overwhelmed caregivers. It was validating to read the stories of other parents who have struggled, made mistakes and triumphed with their children who have mental illnesses and other challenges. I agree with most, but not all, of what Jan shared, which makes sense. Every parent has to make the best decision they can with the information and biases they have, at the time. I salute Jan and David. Their children are lucky.