Berries for brains

Two of Joseph Beitchman's assumptions with respect to my book review, “Berries for Brains,”1 are particularly striking: first, that I “missed the point” of berry-picking as a way of “connecting” and, second, that I do not accept the reality of mental illness in children.

Of course mental illness in children exists; it can in any one of us. And the experiences of Fish can be early signs of it, too. They can also be signs of nutritional deficiencies, a strong need for physical exercise, or an unsupportive learning environment, to name a few examples. A responsible book about mental health in children ought to question more than one of these possibilities.

Likewise, berry-picking (or fishing) can be a way for people to connect. Catch A Falling Star, though, clearly suggests otherwise: it “exercises brain parts?” Would we suggest this in all seriousness to a respected peer?

There are other components to Beitchman's argument that I must challenge. One is his use of the word "symptoms,” which suggests anticipation of oncoming disease and denies the reality that young minds are vulnerable to what we expect. Another is the idea that children suffering from mental illness have no idea why they feel the way they do. I dare say this supposition underestimates the inner resources of children.

Beitchman states there are no simple prescriptions. Ironically, this was part of the point my review was making. We do no service to children by teaching them that healthy minds are as simple as happy trips to special doctors; to the contrary. And although I agree that messages of hope are paramount, what inspires hope is highly subjective. There'll be more than a “small group of children” reading this book, many of which may not find the idea of a “sick brain” very encouraging.

Jessica Mendes Toronto, Ont.