Hastings teacher publishes beautifully illustrated book to help children suffering from anxiety

A primary school teacher from Hastings has written and illustrated her first children’s book about a child with Aspergers.
Heather Stuart Illustration SUS-191119-093324001Heather Stuart Illustration SUS-191119-093324001
Heather Stuart Illustration SUS-191119-093324001

Talented artist Heather Stuart experienced her own problems with severe childhood anxiety leading to an eating disorder aged 9, but it was only when a close family child member began experiencing similar problems that she began work on a story to try and highlight the problem.

Heather explained: “The story could actually be about any child, boy or girl, experiencing anxiety, and is not just about a child on the spectrum.

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“I regularly teach children displaying anxiety for all kinds of reasons but if it is not picked up early and dealt with it can cause real damage.

Heather Stuart book 1 SUS-191119-085628001Heather Stuart book 1 SUS-191119-085628001
Heather Stuart book 1 SUS-191119-085628001

“There is even a reference in the story to adult anxiety. Mental health is so important. Our society is getting much better at recognising that but we still have a long way to go.”

Heather has already begun work on a second children’s story which deals specifically with a little girl on the spectrum and touches on eating disorders.

She said: “Girls often slip under the radar because they mask their anxious behaviour at school. They can be much harder to diagnose than boys”.

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Heather recently paid a visit to Northiam Primary School with her ‘Art Factory’ project, to the delight of pupils.

To buy a copy of the book people can email Heather on [email protected] or message through her Facebook page Heather Stuart.