A 76-YEAR-OLD from Bromsgrove has wrote a book inspired by her daughter who suffers with schizophrenia.

Judith Millinchip has combined all of her daughter’s mental health experiences into a book called: ‘Hidden Illness’.

Tansie Millinchip was diagnosed with schizophrenia when she was 13, now 53 she has made vast improvements.

Judith said: “Over the years I have written an account of our battle to find answers, our search for advice and understanding and to bring peace to our confused daughter.

"We went through unbearable times that all sufferers and their families go through, feeling helpless coping with her erratic behaviour but desperate to calm her distress. We were determined to find the help she needed and persevered, regardless of setbacks, to seek the professional attention for the treatment of her illness.

"I wrote this book because I want to get the message out there and help anyone who is going through what we have gone through over the past forty years. It has been horrendous. I also want to get rid of the stigma surrounding the word ‘schizophrenia’ and make people realise the abuse that surrounds the wording."

Judith and her family struggled to get Tansie the right medication and care for her to make improvements.

Eventually she was treated at Kidderminster Hospital.

Judith added: “Our daughter now lives a full and independent life, even though we could have lost her several times along the way.”

“She is wonderful now, even through the pandemic, and is looking after us now!”

The book ‘Hidden Illness’ is available for £4.99 from Branded-4u in Barnt Green.