The Rose Bird is a personal account of what goes on behind closed doors in a family coping with severe mental illness. Told as only a mother can, this is the true story of loving and losing a daughter affected by mental illness and addiction. Although author Helen Davies begins the story with the fentanyl-related death of her twenty-three-year-old daughter Katie on the streets of Kitchener, Ontario, The Rose Bird is really a tale about resilience and a family cherishing and supporting a daughter and sister in an impossible situation.
By sharing the story of raising Katie through both good times and bad, Helen highlights how mental illness and addictions can affect any family, and the dearth of resources available before a situation hits a crisis point. As Helen watches her spirited, creative, animal-loving daughter slowly get drawn into life on the streets, she shares the frustration and isolation of fighting to save Katie, and the devastation this brings to her and her family.
This is a book for anyone who is going through or has gone through a similar journey, or those supporting someone travelling this road. It shares the highs and lows of loving someone no matter what, and the growing need for policy change and better community resourcing. It is also an important reminder that every person affected by mental illness or addictions has their own story and is someone's child, sibling, or family member.

Helen Davies was born and educated in the UK. She moved to the Kitchener-Waterloo area in Ontario, Canada, in 2001 with her husband, Mike, and daughters, Katie and Juliette. The adventurous sort, she and her family later embraced the cultural experience of living in Hong Kong for several years before moving back to Canada for her daughters to attend high school.
Today, Helen lives in the beautiful British Columbia interior with her husband and two cats, and works as a Chief People and Culture Officer in the tourism industry. Determined to see some good come from her daughter's battle with mental illness and addiction, Helen has become a champion in raising awareness about the needs of those facing similar challenges. She is a family engagement partner with the Assertive Community Treatment Advanced Practice team in British Columbia and a member of Moms Stop The Harm (MSTH).
The Rose Bird is her first book and was written to be a support for others in similar situations, and as a call to action for policy makers to address the growing need for change and better fund community supports.