Out Loud is a collection of more than fifty essays by people affected by mental illness. There are essays by those who have experienced mental illness themselves, by family and friends, by community members, and by professionals who deal with mental illness. The voices here are ones of hope, pain, and honesty. The true meaning in this collection is found in the willingness of the essayists to step forward and share their experiences in hopes of lessening stigma and broadening the conversation about mental illness.