Searching for Normal: The Story of a Girl Gone Too Soon

(Paperback)

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Just over 20% of children (1 in 5) have had a seriously debilitating mental disorder, either currently or at some point during their life. (NIMH)

In 2013, 8% of high school students had attempted suicide one or more times during the prior twelve months. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)

70% of youth in state and local juvenile justice systems have a mental illness. (National Alliance for Mental Illness)

Over 50% of students age fourteen or older who have a mental health condition and are served by special education drop out of school. (2006 US Department of Education)

In 2013, an estimated 43.8 million adults age 18 or older (18.5 % of US adults) had suffered from mental illness in the past year. (NIMH)

Public awareness about the prevalence and cost of mental illness is increasing due to the high suicide rate among veterans, celebrity suicides such as Robin Williams and due to numerous national efforts to address mental illness. (For example: the 2008 Mental Health Parity Act, President Obamas 2013 National Conference on Mental Health, the 2013 BRAIN initiative designed to advance innovative neurotechnologies and to undertake basic mapping of the brain, and the National Association of Broadcasters 2013 launch of their OK2Talk campaign, aimed at educating and encouraging youth to dialogue about mental health.)

Reviews

2020 Eric Hoffer Awards da Vinci Eye Finalist "In her debut memoir, Meadows memorializes her daughter while deploring the state of adolescent mental health care. The books power comes from the way Meadows lucidly analyzes her own story to identify larger systematic issues in mental health care for young people. The memoir also includes basic advice and resources for struggling teens and their families. An intense, moving account of raising and mourning a child with mental illness. Kirkus Reviews "Karens power-punch of a book is a must-read for parents struggling deeply with a child who suffering from mental health issues. This book is two hearts woven togethera mother's memoir coupled with a daughter's journal. A startling account of a deeply flawed system, and deeply flawed treatments, she has used 'the power of her words' beautifully, stunningly. Karen offers up a call to action, asking all of us who suffer from, or suffer around, mental health issues to get angry, to make a ruckus, to make a difference. Amy Ferris, editor of Shades of Blue: Writers on Depression, Suicide, and Feeling Blue Karens intensely human exploration of her daughters depression and subsequent suicide is representative of the private battle millions of families are engaged in. She delivers a line in Searching for Normal that stunned me with its simplicity and directness'I want the world to take note that we cannot afford to lose people like Sadie. I want society to stand up and say, This is unacceptable.' Sheila Hamilton, author of All the Things We Never Knew: Chasing the Chaos of Mental Illness "Searching for Normal is a profoundly personal account of a tragic experience navigating a confusing, often ineffective mental health system inundated with non-evidenced based treatment options for youth. Perhaps more importantly, Meadows provides immensely practical guidance through this morass, while persuasively advocating for developing an intelligible system that makes research-based treatment comprehensive and accessible to parents like herself." Rick Mehlman, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, Chief Executive Officer, Child Study and Treatment Center, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services "Karen [Meadows] has written an extremely important book, one that is long overdue and necessary for parents navigating the confusing area of treatments for children struggling with mental illness. She does an excellent job blending personal details with information about treatment options at various levels. This is a must-read for anyone struggling with mental health issues, or trying to help a loved one with mental health issues. Leslie Taylor, MD, psychiatrist

Author Bio

After a six-year battle with her teenage daughters depression and subsequent suicide, Karen Meadows left behind her successful career in the energy industry to immerse herself in mental health issues. She spent years reading about mental illness and reading her daughters extensive writing. She volunteered on a crisis line and at homeless youth centers, and serves on the Oregon Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Board of Directors. She also serves on the Oregon Health Authoritys Childrens System Advisory Committee. This committee advises state policies regarding childrens mental health. She has an Executive MBA from UW-Madison, an MS in Engineering from UC Boulder, and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley. Meadows lives with her husband and two cats in Portland, Oregon.