Standing on my Brother's Shoulders: Making Peace with Grief and Suicide

This memoir follows the author's journey of healing after experiencing the loss of her father and brother to suicide. Through her brother's diaries, she finds strength and purpose to rebuild her life and become a suicide prevention trainer. The author hopes to inspire others to use their challenges to grow and lead meaningful lives.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 282 pages
Publication date: 08 September 2020
Publisher: Watkins Media

A profoundly moving memoir, this courageous book delves into the intricate nature and processes of destruction, but it goes beyond that to explore the remarkable reconstructions that can arise from such tragic experiences.

- Alex Garland, the acclaimed director of Ex Machina and author of The Beach, praises this book as insightful, moving, and informative.

- Jane Garvey, a columnist for Woman's Hour, describes it as a poignant and enlightening read.

Tara's childhood was marred by the devastating mental illness of her father and the untimely death of her mother from cancer when she was just thirteen. Caught in the grip of grief and despair, Tara and her older brother Adam formed a deep bond, but Adam silently battled anxiety and depression. Four years after their mother's passing, he tragically took his own life while studying at Oxford University. Grief and insecurity threatened to consume Tara, but she eventually discovered a reason to live within her brother's diaries.

The story unfolds from London to Sydney as Tara embarks on a journey of rebuilding her life. Initially pursuing a career as a physiotherapist, she later becomes a firefighter, drawing upon her resilience and determination. Through her search for understanding and engaging in a powerful dialogue with her brother, Tara finds her strength and the courage to move beyond her past.

Trained in suicide prevention and utilizing her PhD studies to investigate the impact of suicide on firefighters, the author hopes that her story will offer hope to those grappling with their own struggles with grief, trauma, or mental ill health. It serves as a testament to the power of resilience and the ability to transform challenges into opportunities for growth and meaningful engagement.

By sharing her journey, the author aspires to inspire others to harness their greatest challenges as catalysts for personal transformation and to lead lives that are filled with compassion, purpose, and fulfillment.

Weight: 274g
Dimension: 131 x 196 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781786783561
Edition number: New ed