Wishing Wellness
Wishing Wellness is a workbook for the child whose mother or father is suffering from a serious mental illness. Packed with information, interactive questions, and fun activities, it's an ideal tool for children and their therapists or other professional mental health workers, covering:
- How the brain works
- Causes, symptoms, and treatment of mental illness
- Feelings and what to do with them
- Good relationships with parents
- Talking to friends and others
- Roles, rights, and responsibilities in the family
- Coping with prejudice
- Building a circle of support
Therapists and other professionals using this book in your work with children can download the Therapist Resource Guide for Wishing Wellness (PDF format, 491KB)opens in new window
Bonnie Matthews has illustrated many children's books. Her whimsical characters have also appeared in more than 100 magazines worldwide, and on gift wrap, greeting cards, tin cans, and even the cover of the Lands' End Kids catalog. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland.
From families who have used the book
This was a very good book to help kids understand. It had lots of fun things to do in it, too.
—daughter of parent with mental illness, age 10
While I was in crisis, the workbook was an important focus for my sons.
—mother with mental illness
I didn't know mental illness wasn't contagious until I read it in the book. Now I know I can hug my mom when she is getting sick again.
—son of parent with mental illness, age 9
I was drawn immediately back to my own experience…the watchfulness of children, inability to relax, and the anxiety. This book shows deep insight into the lives of children and the mentally ill parent.
—adult child of parent with mental illness
