An in-depth exploration of the stigma of mental illness and suicide, the danger of cults, and family dynamics, Debbie Hartung sheds light on the shortfalls of the mental health care system while she spent seven days inside a mental health ward after a suicide attempt. Her powerful memoir, The Factory of Maladies, is written with compassion and is maddening, heartbreaking, humorous, and ultimately, hopeful. Originally a series of journal entries, Debbie recalls her recovery and the confusion and fear that came along with it in this deeply personal story.

Debbie Hartung awakens in a psych ward, her memories fragmented. This book is like a diary of her seven-day ordeal, a raw and visceral journey through the dehumanizing routines and unsettling encounters within the institution. It also exposes the role family can play in helping or harming a patient in distress. During her stay, she was tormented by her time in her aunt's new age cult, while trying to reach out to those who have her best interests in mind. Additionally, she bravely reveals the inadequacies of our current mental health system. The Factory of Maladies exposes the disorientation and complexities of mental illness and a quest for healing amidst the chaos of crisis.

Debbie opens the first chapter with, "I awoke to find myself in a beige room—thin blankets haphazardly covered my shivering body. The room was freezing; my teeth clattered, and I could see my breath in the dim light. It felt like there was a sledgehammer in my head—my frontal cortex throbbed and pounded; there was a tingling and dull ache from my neck all the way down my spine"

About Debbie Hartung: Debbie is a San Francisco-based abstract artist and author. Debbie studied Psychology and Visual Art at the University of San Francisco and graduated Cum Laude in 2004. She is an avid traveler and is passionate about the healing powers of the arts, including visual mediums, music, and writing. The Factory of Maladies is her literary debut, chronicling her healing crisis on a psychiatric ward. Explore her art at www.debbiehartungart.com.