So young, so sad, so listen

Author – Phillip Graham

Age range- 5-16+

Key words – Sadness and information sharing

Although as stated clearly in the opening sentences, the book is aimed at parents and teachers, the thing that could make this a book that a young person might pick up, is that Philip Pullman’s name is on the front. An inspired move by the authors, who are tackling a very tricky subject in a calm and sensitive way. The link made between depression and a man who has become an icon of contemporary teenage literature, somehow legitimises and normalises the existence of this distressing state and throws the issue open for rational discussion.

It is pretty much a perfect book for a G.P to recommend to parents to read and then for the parents to leave lying around in the home. The page layout, and the witty cartoons, might introduce just enough humour to break silences within the family context. One feels very much in the hands of experienced practitioners. The direct style – a lack of jargon – and the straightforward ‘developmental’ structure the authors impose on an emotive issue is engagingly pitched. Statistics appear infrequently but do not underline the life-threatening nature of depression.

The ‘treatments’ chapter gives a good descriptive context of a Child and Adolescent Mental Health clinic and the medical option is the last described, giving the cognitive and talking therapies space and case history support.

There are 2 very good flow chart diagrams – ‘Action Sheets’ – one for parents and one for teachers which could be usefully photocopied as aide-memoirs for school health nurses, GP’s and indeed, parents. There is a good index and suggestions for further reading. Names and addresses of relevant organisations are also listed.