The first time I reached out to Dr. Ken Duckworth for an interview was because I needed an expert.

This was several years ago. And Ken fits the profile of an expert. Totally. medical director of the National Alliance on Mental

Illness, or NAMI, double board certified in adult and child adolescent psychiatry.

What I didn't realize and what Ken taught me is that I was also an expert.

And sure, I've been hosting shows about mental health for years now, including this one.

It's Depression Mode. I'm John Moe. I'm glad you're here.

Turns out, I've been an expert since before I ever talked about mental health into a microphone.

Because I've dealt with mental illness personally. I've lived it.

I've dealt with mental illness and my family, among people I love. I've dealt with mental illness personally. I've lived it. I've dealt with mental illness and my family among people I love. I've tried things and some have worked and some have not.

And according to Ken, the most expert person I know in this area, I am an expert of lived experience.

I suspect you are too. This is not Ken Duckworth merely being nice,

and it's not Ken being patronizing. He believes, he knows that we are capable of gathering wisdom

from just being out there in the thick of it. To that end, Dr. Ken Duckworth has written a book

called You Are Not Alone,

the Nami Guide to Navigating Mental Health.

It's a volume of wisdom about mental health for anyone who has a mind and wants to figure

out why it does what it does.

And Ken put some work into this book.

He talked to 130 people from all walks of life, different generations, career fields, all across the board.

Disclosure, I was one of them.

I appear in the book.

And I was happy to reconnect with my friend.

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