COMING SOON!
Lost in the Looking Glass:
A Family's Journey Through Schizophrenia & Suicide
Every year, nearly 50,000 people take their own lives through suicide in America alone. In 2017, almost 1.5 MILLION people attempted to unsuccessfully in just America! This is a huge issue that we need to take seriously. The stigma that causes people to shove their issues under the rug, so to speak, needs to be set aside. We need to have a real discussion about these issues and face them head on if we're going to make any real change for the better.
I'm Kimberly Brouillette, and I love to share my stories and books with you. For 20 years, I've been working in publishing industry in writing, editing, graphic design and marketing. For the past 8 years, I've focused on my award-winning, fictional paranormal mystery thrillers. However, after the loss of my youngest daughter to suicide in October 2018, following a 4 1/2 year battle with paranoid schizophrenia, I decided to write about her battle and our family's struggle alongside her in my first major non-fiction project, "Lost in the Looking Glass: A Family's Journey Through Schizophrenia & Suicide."
In honor of my youngest daughter, Kelsey Rose, I'm working towards mental health awareness for everyone who is battling this for themselves or with a loved one. This book is only one step of many that's part of my plan. There are numerous gaps in the mental healthcare system, and it will take many people's efforts to make a real difference and cause change. Major areas that need to be addressed regarding mental health include treatment by the mental healthcare industry itself, law enforcement and first responder training and preparedness, judicial system renovations for standard operating procedures concerning the mentally ill, serious mental illness (SMI) differentiation to enable policies to be implemented for specialized treatment of SMI patients, IMD policy exclusion overhaul, consideration for "Red Flag" laws that are balanced and appropriate, educator training for mental health and suicide awareness, plus massive improvements in working with recognized mental health advocacy and support groups.
I've even written a 16-page proposal for "Operation Green Flag," which not only includes these aspects, but also outlines a new program that would provide law enforcement and first responders with key emergency contact information in the event of a mentally ill patient going into crisis. I've already met with the chief of staff for Congressman Richard Hudson, the senior healthcare aide for Senator Thom Tillis, the Cabarrus County Sheriff Van Shaw and several leaders in advocacy groups to present my proposal, with very positive response, but that's only the beginning. I don't profess to have all the answers, but I do feel that we need to get started somewhere. My proposal is a springboard to promote further discussion on how to make a REAL difference in our society. There are many hurdles to make this happen, but I believe that by spreading the word about our struggles and the many things I know need to be addressed, we can connect with the people who CAN make the changes a reality.
(Email me for a copy of my Operation Green Flag proposal, if you're interested in reading it.)
Currently, I'm writing my latest book, "Lost in the Looking Glass: A Family's Journey Through Schizophrenia and Suicide." In it, I discuss the difficult stages my daughter went through until she took her own life only 3 days before her 19th birthday. I also focus on the huge gaps in the mental healthcare industry regarding treating these patients, as well as my suggestions for bridging those holes. Finally, I share numerous resources and first steps that I wish I had known when we were facing the battles with her.
CLICK HERE TO LIKE the "Lost in the Looking Glass" Facebook page for the latest updates on the book release, blog posts and podcast interviews. If you'd like to find out more about my writing projects, follow my author page on Facebook or my Twitter page. You can also follow the Operation Green Flag on Facebook and Twitter to get updates on that project.
I'm available for podcast, blog and article interviews, speaking engagements and other related opportunities.
Contact me via my email to discuss these further.
I'm Kimberly Brouillette, and I love to share my stories and books with you. For 20 years, I've been working in publishing industry in writing, editing, graphic design and marketing. For the past 8 years, I've focused on my award-winning, fictional paranormal mystery thrillers. However, after the loss of my youngest daughter to suicide in October 2018, following a 4 1/2 year battle with paranoid schizophrenia, I decided to write about her battle and our family's struggle alongside her in my first major non-fiction project, "Lost in the Looking Glass: A Family's Journey Through Schizophrenia & Suicide."
In honor of my youngest daughter, Kelsey Rose, I'm working towards mental health awareness for everyone who is battling this for themselves or with a loved one. This book is only one step of many that's part of my plan. There are numerous gaps in the mental healthcare system, and it will take many people's efforts to make a real difference and cause change. Major areas that need to be addressed regarding mental health include treatment by the mental healthcare industry itself, law enforcement and first responder training and preparedness, judicial system renovations for standard operating procedures concerning the mentally ill, serious mental illness (SMI) differentiation to enable policies to be implemented for specialized treatment of SMI patients, IMD policy exclusion overhaul, consideration for "Red Flag" laws that are balanced and appropriate, educator training for mental health and suicide awareness, plus massive improvements in working with recognized mental health advocacy and support groups.
I've even written a 16-page proposal for "Operation Green Flag," which not only includes these aspects, but also outlines a new program that would provide law enforcement and first responders with key emergency contact information in the event of a mentally ill patient going into crisis. I've already met with the chief of staff for Congressman Richard Hudson, the senior healthcare aide for Senator Thom Tillis, the Cabarrus County Sheriff Van Shaw and several leaders in advocacy groups to present my proposal, with very positive response, but that's only the beginning. I don't profess to have all the answers, but I do feel that we need to get started somewhere. My proposal is a springboard to promote further discussion on how to make a REAL difference in our society. There are many hurdles to make this happen, but I believe that by spreading the word about our struggles and the many things I know need to be addressed, we can connect with the people who CAN make the changes a reality.
(Email me for a copy of my Operation Green Flag proposal, if you're interested in reading it.)
Currently, I'm writing my latest book, "Lost in the Looking Glass: A Family's Journey Through Schizophrenia and Suicide." In it, I discuss the difficult stages my daughter went through until she took her own life only 3 days before her 19th birthday. I also focus on the huge gaps in the mental healthcare industry regarding treating these patients, as well as my suggestions for bridging those holes. Finally, I share numerous resources and first steps that I wish I had known when we were facing the battles with her.
CLICK HERE TO LIKE the "Lost in the Looking Glass" Facebook page for the latest updates on the book release, blog posts and podcast interviews. If you'd like to find out more about my writing projects, follow my author page on Facebook or my Twitter page. You can also follow the Operation Green Flag on Facebook and Twitter to get updates on that project.
I'm available for podcast, blog and article interviews, speaking engagements and other related opportunities.
Contact me via my email to discuss these further.