Flagging the Problem: a new approach to mental health

In this ground – breaking book, containing a personal foreword by leading businessman Dr Michael Smurfit, Dr Barry examines our mood system in the brain and body worked using concepts from the emerging world of neuroscience and how difficulties in this system contributed to Anxiety, Depression, Addiction and Suicide. He introduces a novel colour coded FLAG system to detail the changes in our brain and body which occur in these conditions. In everyday life, a Green Flag would represent normal, Red would be for danger, Yellow for fear, Purple for pleasure and White for surrender.

Dr Barry then explores the various colour coded flags. In the Green Flag, he details the normal functions of different parts of the brain and how to keep our mood and stress system healthy. In the Red Flag, he explores the world of depression and the neuroscience behind it, its presentation and management.

In the Yellow Flag, he examines the different forms of anxiety, the neuroscience behind them and how they should be treated. In the Purple Flag, he explores the murky world of addiction, the neuroscience underlying it and how the different forms should be managed. Finally, in the White Flag he enters the world of suicide and self – harm, the neuroscience behind it, how it presents and what we can do to prevent it. This included a real-life story of a young boy and how he died by suicide.

“It’s that rare thing – a medical book that can be read by lay people and health professionals alike. Dr Barry demystifies subjects that touch so many of our lives and he does so with compassion, wisdom and vast professional knowledge.” — Cathy Kelly

“This is a superb book; it looks at mental-health problems in a fresh and accessible way. The use of an innovative ‘flag’ method to explain mood disorders offers a unique insight into depression. Flagging the Problem could help save lives that might otherwise be lost to suicide.” — Dr Muiris Houston, Medical Correspondent, The Irish Times

“This outstanding book will be of tremendous help to those who are trying to understand the complexities of mental illness. By integrating a medical and psychological approach, Dr Barry has bridged a gap that has often pitted those espousing either psychological or pharmacological treatments against each other. The book will be of great assistance to everybody who is striving to end the scourge of suicide.” — Professor Patricia Casey

“Having read Flagging the Problem, I now have a much better understanding of why Niall died. This book is written in very simple terms, exploring the complex nature of depression and suicidal tendencies. It is a ‘must read’ for every parent, informing them of the tell-tale warning signs of depression and suicide.” — John, father of Niall, who died by suicide in 2002