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The One Thing We've Never Spoken About

Exposing Our Untold Mental Health Crisis

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The One Thing We've Never Spoken About

By: Elfy Scott
Narrated by: Elfy Scott
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About this listen

An investigation into the failings of Australia's mental healthcare system, grounded in a personal story of a mother-daughter relationship

Journalist Elfy Scott grew up in a household where her mother's schizophrenia was rarely, if ever, spoken about. They navigated this silence outside the family home too; for many years, this complex mental health condition was treated as an open secret.

Over the past two decades, we have started talking more about common mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. But complex conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and psychosis have been left behind, as have many of the people who live with these conditions or who care for them.

Part memoir, part deep-dive investigation, The One Thing We've Never Spoken About is filled with rage at how our nation's public discourse, emergency services and healthcare systems continue to fail so many people. It is also a work of care, telling the little-heard stories of people who live with these conditions and work at the front lines of mental health. Above all, this timely, compelling book is informed by hope and courage, breaking down taboos and asking big questions about vulnerability, justice and duty of care.

‘Expansive and generous … brimming with kindness, revelatory accounts and wit. The book itself is a thing of grace.' Rick Morton

‘Elfy brings empathy, reason and generosity to a book Australia so desperately needs.' Zara McDonald

‘Absorbing and mind-opening, this is panoramic in scope, while offering a deeply intimate portrait of fierce familial love and care.' Benjamin Law

©2023 Elfy Scott (P)2023 W. F. Howes Ltd
History & Commentary Indigenous Creators Medicine & Health Care Industry Mental Health Mental Health Awareness Psychology & Mental Health Health Health Care
All stars
Most relevant  
Well researched and told. An incredibly important book about complex mental health, the people impacted, and societal shortcomings. This book manages to combine the storytelling power of a good novel with the stats and facts that normally put me to sleep in long form journalism.

Consider my mind opened

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Elfy does a great job of telling her stories and that of others with complex mental health conditions.

Great book!

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Brave, well researched and beautifully shared having a parent with a complicated and misdiagnosed mental illness thank you Elly for sharing your story

Take away the Stigma

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.