Lit(erature) to the Tit

On Thursday 30th March join Lit(erature) to the Tit for our March meet up at The Pavilion Bar, Ormeau Road from 7:30pm onwards

Like all of our meet ups, expect lots of craic, making new friends, good vibes, some wine (if you fancy it, there are plenty of non-alcoholic alternatives), delicious food (the bar serves food until 9pm), book swaps and everything in between !!!

Our March book of the month is ‘Struggling to Breathe: The Diary of a Psychiatric Inpatient’ by local author Niamh Brownlee, who will be joining us on the evening of the meet up to discuss her Book.

After achieving high academic success, Niamh Brownlee became a primary school teacher, first in Kent then back home in Belfast. But all was not well. Gradually, Niamh became more and more depressed until reaching the point where she just wanted to die.

At the age of 24, she was admitted to hospital. Although at rock bottom mentally, she had the presence of mind to keep a diary of the 31 days she spent in two psychiatric hospitals in Northern Ireland. This helped her survive and begin the tentative process of recovery.

Five years later, Niamh has decided to share her diary of those days in the hope that others will feel less alone and come to believe that recovery is possible, and help is out there.

Her diary is also instructive for those who provide mental health services. It gives a rare insight into psychiatric in-patient experience and is a plea to improve the quality of care.

Niamh’s diary is a raw account of feeling utterly worthless, but ultimately it is a diary of discovery and hope.

“Niamh’s brave account of her depression and time in hospital will be an inspiration to others. It is a painful story, but it is also an important one. Niamh’s story brings hope and her testimony demonstrates how, with good support and appropriate mental health services, recovery is possible.” – Professor Siobhan O’Neill, Mental Health Champion for Northern Ireland

Proceeds from the book sales are being donated to both AWARE NI and Eating Disoders NI (EDA). AWARE NI has 23 support groups across Northern Ireland, so there will be one close to you if you ever need it. EDA have a 24 hour helpline if you ever need to speak to someone day or night. Previously Lit(erature) to the Tit have held a charity Halloween event in aid of AWARE NI, which is an amazing mental health charity.

‘Struggling to Breathe’ is available in all local stockists in NI – Waterstones- Belfast City Centre and Forestside, No Alibis in Botanic, Bridge Books in Dromore and can be ordered from the online stockist through the Publisher: https://www.beyondthepalebooks.com/strugglingtobreathe

If you have trouble getting a hold of the book, please feel free to get in contact with Niamh, who is happy to hand deliver copies in the Belfast and Lisburn area @niamh_brownlee

We are always welcoming new members to Bookclub, so if this is something you’ve always wanted to do, please come along! You will be greeted with the biggest smiles and open arms, and you do not have to have attended any of our previous meet ups!

Can’t wait to see you all!