STORIES WE DON’T TELL (THREADING WORLDS)

Hun presents a series of discussions about different aspects of mental well-being.

This volume is one in a series by the author (the founder of the arts organization ThisConnect) addressing various aspects of mental health. The book opens with a foreword by Dr. William Wan relating a grim statistic: A recent Singapore mental health survey indicates that one in seven people have experienced some form of mental health challenge. As Hun notes at the beginning of this installment, the Covid-19 pandemic helped to move the conversation about mental health into more common parlance, but understanding of the subject is still lacking. In these pages, he presents the transcripts of conversations he’s had with various people affected by mental health issues that touch on many different aspects of the subject, from dealing with the trauma of suicide to underlining the post-Covid-19 importance of human contact, which a public speaker named Simone stresses in one dialogue: “I can’t emphasize it enough that our brains are configured from the time we’re in hunter-gatherer tribes and need connection,” she maintains. “When we’re not connected, things seem overwhelming.” Throughout the book, Hun stresses his belief that the key to navigating even the worst dark periods is perseverance. This attitude is effectively echoed by most of the interview subjects, including art psychotherapist Rachel Yang, who’s one among many to note the “conscious choice” required to make therapy effective.Hun’s decision to present these interviews as dramatic dialogues stripped of a broader narrative is ultimately a wise one; his approach allows the full power of the concepts to take center stage, making for compelling reading. If the personal voices will help readers see themselves in these talks, all the better.

A fascinating, multi-voice look at the many aspects of mental health challenges.