31 Days In May Book by Derek Hess

To honor Mental Health Awareness Month in May of 2017, Derek posted a daily image to his social media outlets that showcased his ongoing battle with Dual Diagnosis, a term for those who struggle with both mental illness and substance abuse. This book, 31 Days In May, is a look at the link between creativity and disturbed mental states, as told through Derek's artwork. What started off as self-exploration quickly turned into a personal journey for those among Derek's followers who were dealing with mental health and addiction issues of their own. Topics such as loneliness, relationships, depression and suicide are beautifully and painfully depicted throughout the book with the hope that it not only helps dispel some of the negative stereotypes surrounding mental illness, but also helps to educate readers, and shows others so afflicted that they aren't alone. Along with the 31 images that were originally posted, Derek included additional thematically-linked pieces, resulting in a generou