Helene Meyer grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. After graduating from Washington University with a BA, majoring in English and Spanish, she began a long teaching career in both private and parochial schools. All along, Helene struggled with her own private hell: waging a battle against depression and anxiety disorder. Ashamed to admit to anyone that she had these mental and emotional problems, she decided to write down all she had experienced.
Using new emotional/mental strength, Helene wanted to reach out to others who suffer from these devastating illnesses. Instead of doing so by writing autobiographically, Helene chose to use theatrically-styled readings based on her own life. These readings can be done in mental care settings by social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists or among families and friends who want to overcome the stigma of mental illness. In 2011, Helene founded an NPO called “Slaying Dragons” whose mission is to destroy the stigma of mental illness through theater. The website is www.slayingdragons.org. She hopes many people and organizations will reach out to “Slaying Dragons” performances to help those in need. The impact of these readings are overwhelming.
According to Dr. Collins Lewis, professor emeritus from Washington University, this book will help many people who suffer from depression and anxiety.
Proceeds from the sale of this book will go to “Slaying Dragons” to help destroy the stigma of mental illness.