Maggie, thank you for taking the time to speak with StoryBox Hub for Mental Health Month: 'It's Time To Talk About Mental Health'.

Firstly can you tell us a little bit about you as an author, and also your work as a counsellor and family-dispute mediator?

I'm retired now, apart from writing books. But I was a counsellor and family dispute mediator for over twenty years. I specialised in relationships and child and family issues as well as working in the broader mental health field. It was a rewarding career, especially dealing with young people. 

Mental Health Month is a national event celebrated every October, and it aims to improve community awareness and understanding of mental health and wellbeing. Why do you think it’s important to write stories that tackle some of these bigger/taboo issues?

Awareness is key to improving outcomes. When I first started my career, there was real shame and anxiety for people coming to appointments but towards the end of that time things had really shifted. I found people were starting to be very open with others about coming to deal with issues. We have come a long way but there is still stigma and exclusion in our society. Stories shine a light on the humanity we all share. If kids are hearing about mental health issues early on in an accessible way, it can help them ask for help themselves or improve their empathic response to others. It's all about normalising these issues. Everyone has anxiety and worry. Everyone faces change at some point in their lives and above all things, everyone can make a difference to this complicated world. Just noticing and having a kind attitude can help. I do think stories help!

What inspired you to write stories that delve into more challenging aspects of life, mental health and wellbeing?

In a way, the counselling process is all about storytelling. Kids often shared very private fears and worries.  I feel that my stories are a gift paying back my gratitude for all the stories I've had the blessing of listening too. But also I love writing funny stories and making kids laugh! One of the lovliest bits of feedback I had was from a parent who's child had been bullied at school. He'd been feeling very low but one afternoon he came home and picked up "Your Birthday was the Best!" And laughed out loud for the first time in ages. That's why I write!

What has been the response to your stories ‘I saw Pete, and Pete saw me’ (addressing homelessness) ‘Enough Love’ (separation and changing family dynamics) ‘Today you Changed the World’ (Enacting global change through kindness) and your most recent book, ‘Be True To You’ (Accepting physical and emotional differences)? Do you have a secret favourite of these?

Pete is still my favourite, from 'I Saw Pete and Pete Saw Me'! It was a very tricky book to write but it's still one that people contact me about on a regular basis. I love it because the story does not attempt to solve Petes problem on a practical level. Instead I focused on noticing and kindness. Because if attitudes change, real practical change can follow. Hopefully these books all help families negotiate change and foster a sense of hope for the future. "The Book for Happy Hearts" and "The Book for Marvellous Minds" also contain a lot of stories and poems about family life, emotions and improving everyday wellbeing. Theres a lot of focus on calming, mindful activity too!

Why do you think stories and storytelling is an important part of supporting children and families during challenging times and periods of change?

Story time between caregivers and kids is an intimate safe space where a conversation can happen. But also I think we have to remember that young children are still developing the language for saying how they feel. Sometimes a story can help them identify what it is they are feeling. In my work I often used stories and drawing to draw out feelings and to clarify what was happening for a child. 

Maggie, you not only write stories about deeper issues, but you also have a very endearing (and cheeky!) cockroach series (Your Birthday was the best, Your School is the best & Your holiday was the best!). Why is it important to you to also write stories that are silly and fun?

I love our little cheery roachie from 'Your Birthday Was The Best' and 'Your School is The Best'! At the moment I'm writing more stories with a focus on humour and family life. I must admit I'm seeing far too many didactic books on the shelves on "how to be" a certain way. I reckon kids are sick of them! But also, any good story can foster positivity and a kind attitude. Our roach is super positive in adversity and can turn any experience into a happy one! I love that his best mate Gary the spider is clearly depressed, but our roach includes him in the best holiday ever! 

Finally, Maggie, can you tell us about the things you do in your life to help keep your mental health and wellbeing in shape?

I'm basically the roach! I tend to be a positive person in general but of course ups and down happen. I exercise most days. I had a tumour in my spinal cord and had to learn to walk again in mid life. So I tend to fall over quite a lot and lurch about my big riverside garden in an alarmingly unsteady way, but I deal with it with some humour. I catch up with friends and family a lot, and have some awesome people in my life who love to share stories and laugh as much as I do. That's essential to my wellbeing! I'm always open to learning new things (currently obsessed with making small bits of furniture and renovating my home) 

 And I write books...and that's the BEST! 

 

Thank you SO much for your time Maggie – we are ALL such huge fans of your books.