6 Questions for Rachael Newham

August 13, 2018 Elizabeth Neep

We will publish Learning to Breathe by Rachael Newham this week. Here, we chat with her about writing, hobbies, and taking photos for Instagram.  

1. Tell us a little bit about you? Where did you grow up? What are a few of your favourite things? 

I’m originally from Essex but now live in Hertfordshire with my husband; I love singing, coffee, books and photography and can often be found on Instagram capturing one of the following!

2. When did you first start to think about writing a book and why?

I actually started to write Learning to Breathe when I was eighteen; I had a gap year where I worked as a school receptionist and I wrote a lot in the holidays trying to make sense of my depression and what I’d been through. I left that rather angst-ridden piece for a few years and then came back to it as I was doing more work raising awareness of mental health in the church - I wanted to write something that would be my story but also a resource to raise the level of understanding of mental health issues.

3. How did you find the process of writing – what was the biggest high and biggest low?

I absolutely loved writing; I think having had the bare bones of the book for so long, it was nice to be able to be to explore it further and craft the writing. Editing, on the other hand, I really struggled with! It felt odd editing my life and I actually found it more emotionally draining, having an amazing editor helped a lot though and it’s made the book much better!

4. If there is one thing you hope people will take away from your book what is it?

I think it’s that as the church, we’re getting better at mental health awareness, but we’ve still got a way to go in terms of understanding the impact it has and what the Bible has to say about it. I hope that comes across in the book.

5. What for you is the biggest misunderstanding surrounding mental health illness?

That’s a difficult one because I think there are many misunderstandings! Probably the main one is the extent to which they affect the lives of those who struggle and those around them. Recovery is often a long, rather convoluted process that might not mean the removal of a diagnosis, but rather that someone is able to cope with their illness and flourish in life.

6. What is one piece of advice you’d offer to anyone who is suffering from mental health issues or thinks they might be?

Talk to someone! It might seem blindingly obvious, but talking about it is the way you can access help; talk to someone you trust and let them help you.