Michael Colling is a Melbourne-based youth services coordinator who has worked extensively with young people as they battle to deal with life's difficulties. His recent book "The Other Side of Blue What we learn through overcoming adversity" highlights, by profiling 20 case studies, that at some point we all face tragedy, misfortune or hardship and that recovery is possible through the mind's natural restorative abilities, coupled with a strong support network.

These 20 stories demonstrate that conquering adversity in the midst of vulnerability provides the impetus for courage, personal determination and new insights. Michael's book emphasises that recovery is facilitated by reinforcing to a depressed or anxious person that "they are not unique in being anxious or alone" - others have also faced these things and survived, and that simple message materially assists recovery - to find your way through ... to the other side of blue.

Michael's book is patent testimony that assisting a stressed person allow their own resilience and restorative characteristics, supported by a robust support network, is more beneficial than allowing the majority of distressed people to believe that they need a pill to prop them back up and keep them upright amidst today's stresses.

Praise for The Other Side of Blue:

'Had I been given access to a book like this as a teenager, I might not have spent years struggling in my adult years to come to terms with my own problems ... Through the simple act of listening and allowing young people to express themselves and tell their story, The Other Side of Blue has given hope to so many.' Darren Hayes, singer, ex-Savage Garden

'The Other Side of Blue is a must-read for anyone at the point of self-discovery. [It] is honest, real, relevant and relatable ... This book is a necessary piece in helping put the puzzle of our life together.' Brett Murray, founder of DARE:OPS, professional speaker and youth motivator

'The Other Side of Blue ... stands as a powerful and eloquent reaffirmation of the amazing capacity of the human spirit to move from suffering towards happiness - a capacity which lies in each and every one of us.' Jack Heath, Executive Director and Founder of Inspire Foundation

The leading treatment over the last scintilla of mans occupancy whereby GPs prescribe for stress and anxiety may be the optimum treatment for the drug companies and their stock holders. But it is not the optimum treatment for many people who may be bewildered by their acute lack of self-confidence from believing they need to rely on pills when a huge dose of self-confidence from physical achievement will do infinitely more good to -

(i) cure an existing bout of depression; and

(ii) better equip the person to handle stress, anxiety and depression in the future.