Flying with Paper Wings by SANDY JEFFS

The memoir ‘Flying with Paper Wings: Reflections on Living with Madness’ by Sandy Jeffs has been reissued with a new preface and afterword. Originally published in 2009, this 2024 edition includes a foreword by Australian TV presenter Andrew Denton. Sandy also acknowledges the contributions of journalist Anne Deveson.

Sandy Jeffs, now a peer ambassador for SANE Australia, grew up in a troubled family in Ballarat, near Melbourne. She was diagnosed with schizophrenia at 23 and has lived with her inner voices ever since. Despite many hospitalizations and treatments, she has become an award-winning poet and a speaker on mental health issues.

Her memoir highlights ongoing tragedies in mental health, including the deaths of mentally ill young people shot by police. It criticizes the inconsistencies in mental health services in Australia.

Sandy courageously shares her life story, detailing her schizophrenic episodes, the tormenting voices in her head, and her experiences with different doctors and institutions. She reflects on how mental health treatment has evolved over the past 50 years.

Her story resonates with many, including those with similar troubled upbringings. Sandy’s family connections, including a distant relation to George Pell, add an interesting twist to her narrative.

A poignant part of the memoir recounts her sexual assault at age 13, which she believes contributed to her mental health struggles. Research supports a link between childhood trauma and psychosis, aligning with Sandy’s experiences.

Sandy finds solace in music, especially the Beatles’ album ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’, which helps drown out the voices in her head.

In her chapter titled ‘Recovery’, Sandy redefines her identity beyond her illness, emphasizing her relationships, poetry, humor, and potential. She has been a sportswoman, musician, poet, and speaker, sharing her life with schizophrenia.

The 2024 afterword pays tribute to those who cared for her and offers a moving reassessment of her parents. This memoir is deeply moving, showcasing Sandy Jeffs as a voice of profound maturity and resilience.

Re-reported from the article originally published in INDEPENDENT AUSTRALIA.