A desire to help others cope with mental illnesses has prompted a book release today.

Rose Brannon, senior in genetics and an honors student, is a releasing her book titled, “The Alternative Scares Me: Expressions of Mental Illness,” from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Osborn Cottage. The books will be sold for $10 each, a $2 markdown from the original price.

Brannon’s 117-page book is the result of her university honors project – compiling poems, stories and artwork from 28 different authors and artists about many aspects of mental illness.

Some of the illness topics include depression, schizophrenia, self-injury, suicide and eating disorders. It also deals with the affects on family members and recovery.

“I came up with this idea approximately March last year. I have several friends who suffer from depression and a friend suffering from anorexia,” Brannon said. “They don’t want to go into counseling because they feel like they are weak individuals. I’m trying to show people they are not alone and there is a chance for recovery.”

Liz Schabel, temporary instructor of English, helped Brannon coordinate the project, especially because the Liberal Arts and Sciences Honors committee was hesitant at first to approve the project.

“A lot of people didn’t think it had merit, so together we had to go in front of [the] honors committee. After that, then they thought it was a great project,” she said. “She has a lot of tenacity because she has stuck with it.”

Schabel said the book starts with a brief descriptions of the different types of mental illnesses, moving the reader to pieces by people who are suffering from it and people who are recovering.

“There are very bleak pieces in there and very uplifting pieces,” she said. “There’s a very poignant piece by a man whose wife is mentally ill.”

Brannon said she spent 90 percent of her own money to self-publish the anthology. She received a Very Special Artists of Iowa grant for $300. She said printing costs were about $3,300 along with other costs such as the party and printing flyers.

“I’m hoping to break even, but if by some miracle there is a profit, the money will be donated to a non-profit organization,” she said. “More importantly, though, I’m hoping that people inexperienced with mental illness will gain a greater understanding thereby decreasing the stigma associated with the disease, and that sufferers will find that they are not alone and may even seek help.”

Elizabeth Beck, director of the Honors program, said a project such as Brannon’s is unusual because she did more than just writing the anthology.

“It’s quite atypical for honors students,” Beck said. “She went beyond just writing and had it published.”