My Friend Fox

By: Heidi Everett

Narrated by: Heidi Everett

The fox sits on the outer waiting for me to discover him because at the moment, I am on the outer, too. He watches me. Can you see him? He’s clever at hiding.

Just like fox, Heidi has lived on the outer. The ‘official record’ of her life has been her mental health record: primary diagnosis - schizoaffective, comorbidity - major depression, juvenile autism and not her own memories. This is the living, breathing version of Heidi’s mental health file that psych wards, doctors, mental health staff or rehab workers know little about or worse, use as evidence of diagnoses. This is Heidi’s account of what happened, shadowed by the story of a fox who knows he'll never belong. Part parable, part memoir, My Friend Fox is a story that might be familiar to some - searching everywhere to finally feel at home. With Fox as her guide, Heidi comes to know how to live authentically, and venture into a future of her own making.

©2021 Heidi Everett (P)2021 W F Howes

Critic reviews

"My Friend Fox is a beautiful memoir about experiencing diverse mental health. Heidi Everett is generous and gentle in sharing her story in order to demand a better mental health system for all." (Carly Findlay, author of Say Hello and editor of Growing Up Disabled in Australia)

"Humorous, heartfelt and humane, My Friend Fox is deeply moving and essential." (Fiona Murphy, author of The Shape Of Sound)

"Blazingly beautiful and devastating. I wept but felt less alone as a human." (Favel Parrett, author of Past the Shallows and There Was Still Love)