Finding Dad

Reading Guide Questions

1. What is the theme of Finding Dad? In what ways can you relate to this story’s message? How might the message be relevant today?
2. When a person deals with death, disease, substance abuse, disability, war, trauma, birth, job loss, financial loss, natural disasters, bullying, or harassment, what stages of grief are healthy, or unhealthy, for people to go through? When should someone seek help?
3. Sibling relationships can be complicated. How did the relationship between Jackie, Amanda, and Keith create tension or provide strength?
4. The sandwich generation, adults caring for their parents and children, face tremendous stress. List healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms.
5. List the signs of dementia and Alzheimer’s. How did dementia and/or Alzheimer’s complicate the treatment of Joseph’s mental illness?
6. What role can religion play to help people affected by mental illness? How might spiritual leaders make the situation better or worse? How can we tell the difference between religious beliefs and mental illness?
7. Mental illness is an invisible disease. How can we show empathy for our neighbors, friends, family, and coworkers? For ourselves?
8. What role did laws, policies, and procedures play in the story? What are the laws in your state or country? What, if anything, would you change?
9. Joseph’s family would be considered middle-class. How might a person’s socio-economic status affect access to care and outcomes?
10. Is there a right way to deal with mental illness or loss? Evaluate each family member’s reactions. Consider possible cultural or gender bias.
11. On average, one in five people are affected by mental illness, anxiety and depression the most common. If you are comfortable sharing, how has mental illness affected your life, if at all?
12. How do our mental health needs change as we age? How can we combat loneliness in our vulnerable older population?
13. Discuss HIPPAA guidelines. Why do we have them? How do we balance privacy with the need to include family in a care plan?
14. This system failed Joseph, a white male. What additional obstacles to accessing care may people from historically marginalized groups face? How can we achieve equitable mental healthcare?
15. What options are available in your community for long-term care should you or a family member need it?
16. Discuss the impact insurance companies have on quality of care.
17. People plan for the future with wills, trusts, advanced healthcare directives, medical and financial powers of attorney. But how prepared are you should your mental health decline? What about your spouse? Children? What legal forms are available to help you plan ahead?
18. Families are 24-hour caregivers. How can families work with the healthcare team to improve care? How can we help them?
19. Is there a cure to mental illness on the horizon? Explain.
20. How do you practice self-care? A drowning person can’t save others.