Breaking Silence: Debbie Hartung on Mental Health, Survival, and The Factory of Maladies.
- Writer's Life
- 8 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Debbie Hartung’s debut memoir, The Factory of Maladies, is an unfiltered and deeply personal account of her battle with mental illness, the devastating impact of cult influence, and the harsh realities of the psychiatric healthcare system. Written with raw honesty and a touch of dark humor, the memoir sheds light on the complexities of depression, the stigma surrounding mental health, and the ways in which the system often fails those in crisis.
In this Q&A, Hartung discusses what compelled her to share her story, the emotional and creative challenges of writing about such a painful chapter of her life, and the eye-opening contrast between psychiatric care and treatment for physical ailments. She also offers insight into the importance of advocacy, the healing power of creativity, and the one message she hopes readers take away from her book. Above all, The Factory of Maladies is a story of survival, resilience, and the belief that even in our darkest moments, hope remains within reach.
The Factory of Maladies is a deeply personal and raw memoir. What inspired you to share this story with the world?
Yes, my memoir is visceral and raw, with a touch of dark humor; I am inspired to share this story with the world for three main reasons. Firstly, I would like to reduce the stigmas surrounding mental illness; for example, I had a loving and supportive relationship, I lived in a great city, I had a budding artistic career as a painter, and I had a bit of money in the bank. Yet, when I fell prey to a greedy cult 'guru' and into the throws a major depressive disorder, none of these things mattered and I felt myself sinking deeper and deeper until I tried to take my own life. I know from firsthand experience that mental illness does not discriminate. Secondly, I would like to share what a week-long stay on an underfunded psychiatric ward looks like from a patient's perspective. This is in the hopes of educating others and giving insight to friends and family members of those suffering from mental health challenges. Lastly, I want to give hope to anyone who has suffered from a mental illness; you deserve to overcome your challenges and you are not alone.
The book navigates heavy themes like mental illness, cult influence, and family dynamics. Was there a particular moment when you knew you had to write this memoir?
Yes, there was a clear moment when I knew that I had to write the memoir: it happened during my hospitalization when a very kind nurse went against hospital protocol and smuggled a notebook and a miniature golf pencil into my room. She knew that I loved to write (miraculously, this information was in my chart) and it was this generous gesture that became the catalyst for writing my memoir.
Throughout the memoir, you write with remarkable clarity about experiences that must have been confusing and disorienting when you lived through them. How did you navigate the gap between your past perspective and your current understanding while writing?
I believe that time was a great catalyst for clarity in terms of navigating my past perspective versus my current understanding. I spent seven years journaling in a stream-of-consciousness style of writing; as I wrote, I was inevitably triggered by my past experience, but I channeled the visceral memories and flashbacks onto paper, while simultaneously receiving professional help for my PTSD. I also saved all of the paperwork and occupational therapy worksheets during my hospitalization and they proved to be extremely helpful in terms of recalling specific events and dialogue. I then spent another year editing my memoir and by this time, I felt healed on many levels from my experience, and I was able to see my work from a new perspective.
What was the most challenging part of writing The Factory of Maladies—emotionally or creatively?
The most challenging aspect of writing The Factory of Maladies was on an emotional level. In the beginning, the more I wrote, the more PTSD flashbacks occured due to the triggering nature of my experience. However, putting this pain to paper proved to be one of the greatest assets of my writing style and a major part of my healing process. Also, I confronted many difficult emotions when I decided to publish my work; it pushed me out of my comfort zone, as I am naturally quite shy and a bit anxious. However, working through these emotions has led me to feel genuinely excited about sharing my story and has been a great gift on many levels.
The memoir critiques the mental health system and its inadequacies. Based on your experience, what are the biggest issues that need to change?
Yes, there are some big critiques regarding the current mental health system in my book and I share them in the hopes that the system can be improved for others. I feel that there are a few major issues that need to change: adequate funding for mental health wards, increased staff (many of the staff I encountered were exhausted and clearly overworked), and appropriate training to deal with patients who cannot always advocate for themselves. For example, a few years prior to my time on the psych ward, I was admitted to the same hospital for an issue with my ovaries. While there, I was given heated blankets, fluffy pillows, clean hospital gowns, round-the-clock care from knowledgeable and compassionate staff, and morphine for my intense physical pain. This was in stark contrast to my tenure on the psychiatric ward, where I slept on a dirty bed with threadbare blankets and a pancake-thin pillow in a freezing room. I wore the same pair of scrubs for days on end and received the bare minimum of care. I truly believe that patients on psychiatric wards deserve to be treated in the same manner as other wards: with kindness, increased physical comfort, and compassionate care. Providing the same level of cleanliness, training, and comfort for all psych ward patients is a great place to start; unbalanced brain chemistry should be treated with the same amount of care and compassion as any other medical condition.
What advice would you give to others who may be struggling with mental health challenges and feeling lost in the system?
I advise my fellows who face mental health challenges and to those who feel lost in the system to ask for help as many times as necessary; there are resources available. Also, on a personal note, I found creativity to be a very useful healing tool; writing and painting, in conjunction with proper medication and psychiatric treatment, were invaluable to my healing journey.
If there’s one message you hope readers take away from The Factory of Maladies, what would it be?
The message that I wish for my readers is: a sense of hope. Although my story may seem bleak in the beginning, it is also relatable on my many levels. Most people have struggled with mental health challenges to varying degrees and it is easy to feel trapped in a downward spiral. However, the fact that I am alive and that I was able to write a memoir while recovering from a brain injury sustained during my suicide attempt, means that I have overcome adversity - and so can you.
Now that your debut book is out, do you see yourself writing more in the future? If so, what kinds of stories are you drawn to?
Yes, I hope to continue writing, as it is one my life's passions. I would love to write a follow-up to The Factory of Maladies - a non-fiction book focusing on how to be an advocate and an ally for those with mental health challenges. Also, I am currently writing a book of short-stories that I hope to share with the world soon.
For more information on Debbie please visit: www.TheFactoryOfMaladies.com
