The Price of Silence

Powerful and shocking,The Price of Silencelooks at how society stigmatizes mental illness-including in children-and the devastating societal cost. In the wake of repeated acts of mass violence, Long points the way forward.Liza Long, the author of "I Am Adam Lanza's Mother"-as seen in the documentaries American Tragedy and HBO 'sA Dangerous Son-speaks out about mental illness.Like most of the nation, Liza Long spent December 14, 2012, mourning the victims of the Newtown shooting. As the mother of a child with a mental illness, however, she also wondered- "What if my son does that someday?"The emotional response she posted on her blog went viral, putting Long at the center of a passionate controversy. Now, she takes the next step. Powerful and shocking, The Price of Silence looks at how society stigmatizes mental illness-including in children-and the devastating societal cost. In the wake of repeated acts of mass violence, Long points the way forward.

“Winner of The Books for a Better Life Award "In this courageous, determined, radical book, Liza Long exposes the dearth of alternatives for parents of kids with mental illnesses, the shame that attends their perceived failures, and the hope that such families may find their collective voice and demand better options. ”

Winner of The Books for a Better Life Award

“In this courageous, determined, radical book, Liza Long exposes the dearth of alternatives for parents of kids with mental illnesses, the shame that attends their perceived failures, and the hope that such families may find their collective voice and demand better options.  I hope her passionate cry is heard far and wide.”
—Andrew Solomon, PhD, author of The Noonday Demon and Far from the Tree
 
“Not only is Liza Long’s The Price of Silence an honest and inspiring memoir, but it’s an incisive indictment of what passes for a mental-health-care system in America—and what’s too often the result, mental illness leading to prison, not treatment. But The Price of Silence doesn’t only illuminate the crisis, it offers solutions—ones that can lead to healing.”
—David Sheff, author of Beautiful Boy
 
“Liza Long offers a lucid description of the myriad of problems that confound and perplex the average parent who struggles mightily to find answers and relief for their child. In the process, she charts a course that will provide an excellent guide for others on this difficult journey as they make their way through the maze of our current mental health care system.”
—Demitri Papolos, M.D., Co-Author, The Bipolar Child
 
“The most excruciatingly honest, portrayal of what it's like to be the mom of a child with serious mental illness and how the mental "health" system gets in the way.”
—DJ Jaffe, Executive Director, Mental Illness Policy Org

"A parent can only be as happy as her unhappiest child. Liza Long's heartfelt, brainy, and gutsy book eloquently describes the  great pain, but also the unexpected joys, of having a child who suffers from severe mental illness. I applaud her crusade against silence, stigma, and shunning."--Allen Frances, M.D., author of Saving Normal

“Liza Long deals a powerful and devastating blow-by-blow indictment of how our mental health system has failed us.  Her courageous voice is an important call to action for a nation that has for too long ignored the true situation. A must-read for anyone who wants to understand the mental health crisis facing our nation."
—Matthew Lysiak, author of Newtown
 
“The Price of Silence goes deep into the civil rights issues that parents face in getting appropriate care and education for their children. Liza's ability to share the truth about her family's experiences is changing history, making it possible for others to step out of the darkness of isolation. Courage personified, she is our Flawless heroine.”
—Janine Francolini, Founder and Board Chair of The Flawless Foundation: Seeing the Perfection in Every Child

Liza Long is an author, educator, erstwhile classicist, and mother of four children based in Boise, Idaho. She has written and edited extensively for regional publications, includingEagle Magazine,Greenbelt Magazine, andThe Blue Review. Since her essay "I Am Adam Lanza's Mother" went viral, she has appeared on theToday Show,Good Morning America,Erin Burnett Out Front, andAnderson Cooper 360, among others. She presented a talk on stigma at TEDx San Antonio in October 2013, and in 2016 she completed her Ed.D with a dissertation with research focused on mental health advocates and leadership.

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