In 2018, there have already been 17 school shootings. While school shootings are becoming a frequent occurrence in America’s schools, the critical question to be asked is: Is it time for more mental health training in our public schools?

To answer this question, I recently read a book entitled “Lies In Silence” by SJ Hart. Hart is a trained clinician and educator for over 30 years in mental health and addiction. She provides quality and impactful symposiums to improve the lives of those living with mental illness and suicidal ideation, and those who work with them through her company called SJ Hart & Associates International Mental Health and Suicide Management Education. An excerpt of my book review on “Lies in Silence” follows:

Trapped by the hardship of bipolar disorder as a child, Hart experienced first hand the horrific symptoms of the genetically transmitted disease and the pain and suffering experienced by three generations of her family including herself. The book “Lies In Silence” gives readers an in-depth look at bipolar disorder, and how it runs rampant in Hart’s family and other families. It gives examples of how the disease lies in silence in people through symptoms such as high energy level, loss of touch with reality and reduced need for sleep.

Hart was raised by a loving father who was a proud husband and strong provider for his family. Hart explains in the book how the genetically transmitted disease destroyed her family. Without a cure, the bipolar disease took over her father’s brain and drove him to murder his pastor, kill several church members, and subsequently, take his own life with a gun.

Having suicidal thoughts is a symptom of bipolar disorder. In her book, Hart describes this symptom as a “picture or suicidal movie theater” in a person’s mind. The images are scary, bloody, horrific and traumatizing. As the images linger in the person’s brain, he or she will do anything to make the pain go away.

This same “movie theater” that came to her father’s brain also came to the brain of Hart’s siblings, children and even herself. Although the reaction to the “movie theater” is different from one individual to another, Hart discusses how she and her husband struggled to raise one of their daughters battling with mental illness and suicidal ideation. She also explains how she battled with the genetically transmitted disease where at times the “movie theater” played pictures in her brain of hanging herself, jumping off a bridge and shooting herself.

Hart was influenced by her father’s illness and completed suicide to pursue a bachelor and master’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation. She understands the importance of providing people with bipolar disorder more useful information on the symptoms of mental illnesses and suicidal ideation. Hart is an advocate for suicide management and she helps people of all types who are suffering silently from the disease.

In my view, “Lies in Silence” is a must read for people in all professions such as education, healthcare, government and law enforcement. It is a book that can be used to educate and raise the awareness of the disease to the general public. It is also a book that can be used to advocate the need for improved diagnosis and treatment for bipolar and co-occurring disorders as described by the experience the disorders had on the author’s family and herself.

Dr. Ronald Holmes, Ph.D. is a former teacher, school administrator, test developer and district superintendent. He is the author of 16 books and publisher of The Holmes Education Post, an education focused Internet newspaper. These books include How to Eradicate Hazing; How to Eradicate Cyber Bullying; How to Eradicate Schoolyard Bullying; and How to Eradicate Workplace Bullying. These books serve as a reference guide to an online anti-bullying program that provides training for all students, parents, employees, and managers. These books are also equipped with a 24 hour Web Based Reporting, Tracking, Training and Documentation System that allow individuals to report bullying incidents anonymously from the home, school, work and community.

Click on this link to see a description of all of Dr. Ronald Holmes’ books.