"The Day-Blind People" by Helge Ferstad offers a raw and insightful exploration of living with bipolar disorder, told through the lens of the author's personal experiences. This compelling narrative delves into the challenges of mental illness, the impact of coercive psychiatric treatment, and the search for dignity and understanding in the face of adversity. A must-read for professionals and anyone touched by mental health issues, this book sheds light on the often-hidden world of psychiatric care with honesty and humanity.
Title: The Day-Blind People
Original Language Title: Det dagblinde folket
Genre: Biography
Language: Norwegian (Original) / English (Rights Available)
Publisher: Kolofon Forlag AS
ISBN: 9788230025468
Publication Date: June 2023
Copyright Year: 2023
Format: Hardback
Pages: 286
Page size: 212x135
Edition: 2
Author Biography
Helge Ferstad, born in 1963, debuted with The Day-Blind People in June 2023. He is a trained nurse and deacon. From 1986 until 2017, he was involuntarily hospitalized eleven times.
Since 2013, he has met with thousands of students and professionals in the field of psychiatry through his lectures, which are based on his own experiences with bipolar 1 disorder. Today, he is a sought-after speaker, largely due to his ability to reflect and his curious approach to the mysterious origins and expressions of mental disturbances.
The author's distinctive style is linked to his effective use of metaphors, which also comes through in his lectures. These lectures are thematically gathered under the heading "My Life as a Polar Explorer," illustrated by the mental contrast between the distance from the North Pole (depression) to the South Pole (mania).