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Laurie is a registered nurse who graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Master’s degree in nursing education. She worked in a variety of settings until her career was sidelined with a diagnosis of depression and anxiety. She continued to be active in her community throughout her recovery by volunteering in many areas including the National Alliance on Mental illness. In 2017, Laurie became certified as Mental Health Peer Support specialist and worked in that role for two years at a mental health clinic at Rochester, Minnesota. She was also certified to teach the Mental Health First Aid class managed by the National Council for Behavioral Health. In 2019, she retired in southern California. 

Climbing the Mount Everest of Depression is a memoir, inspirational book and self-help book all in one. Laurie Jueneman started her struggle with depression when she was 35 years old and continues to struggle at times today. During the course of her treatment, she experienced many hospitalizations, many medication trials, over four-hundred electro-convulsive treatments and two neuro-surgical surgeries.  

Her story provides hope to those suffering from depression and to their families and friends. This book includes the information on the topics such as:  

• Symptoms of depression. 
• Advice on accepting a mental illness diagnosis. 
• Numerous treatment options. 
• Tips for overcoming negative thoughts. 
• Tools and skills one can use to help in recovery. 

“Fighting Back against the Challenges that Accompany Depression and Other Mental Illnesses

As per the latest statistics one in five people will be affected by a mental illness. Around two hundred sixty-four million people world-wide suffer from a mental illness, and it has become a leading cause of disability. Depression accounts for a large number of these. It is important to realize that these numbers account for those who are diagnosed and does not include those who never get diagnosed.

However Laurie Jueneman is taking a stand on bridging the chasm between suffering with depression and learning to live with it in a meaningful way. Laurie thinks she was depressed long before she was ever diagnosed. She feels strongly that there is a difference between recovery and cure. Although her depression may never be cured, she has learned to live with it and live what she calls a “meaningful life.”

The book, “Climbing the Mount Everest of Depression: A Story of Hope,” Inspiration and Recovery provides the reader a glimpse of what it is like to live with a mental illness such as depression on a daily basis. In her book, she shares intimate and sensitive parts of her life which contributed to her illness and the struggles that went along with reaching a sense of recovery.

Laurie wants her readers to understand that depression is a medical illness as all mental illnesses are. She states that these illnesses affect one’s life in many ways. She shares her story to not only help those trying to live with a mental illness, but also their friends and family.

Every person has a story to tell. The more that people with a mental illness share their story, the more society will see that these people are “regular “ people trying to live “regular lives” and contribute to society in a fruitful way.”