All the Little Monsters
- janicedesroches
- Jan 14
- 2 min read
Chapters4Change 2025 Theme: Mental Health and Wellbeing
Blending humour, compassion, and unflinching honesty, acclaimed author David A. Robertson reflects on the daily challenges and quiet triumphs of living with chronic anxiety and depression in this book All the Little Monsters: How I Learned to Live with Anxiety. Through sharing the insights he has gained along the way, he seeks to remind others facing similar struggles that they are not alone. To the outside world, Robertson appears to be thriving: he has a supportive family, a celebrated writing career, and a respected public voice for Indigenous stories, cultures, and issues. Yet outward success conceals an inner reality shaped by persistent health anxiety, panic attacks, and periods of depression—what he calls his “little monsters.” At his lowest points, even walking down the hallway can feel overwhelming; at better moments, he finds himself constantly monitoring his body for signs of catastrophe.
In All the Little Monsters, Robertson offers an intimate look into his inner world, revealing how these mental health challenges have affected both him and those closest to him. He describes the ongoing process of moving forward despite setbacks and the supports that have helped him endure, including connection with others, therapy, medication, and a grounding question he returns to again and again: what if everything turns out okay?
Chapters4Change has been fortunate to offer three literature circles during the 2025–2026 K–12 school year for DSBN educators, faculty, and staff. These circles have created space for participants to learn from one another and to collaborate on meaningful ways to better support students who are experiencing anxiety and other mental health challenges. We were especially grateful to DSBN’s Indigenous Education Team for arranging for David A. Robertson to join our literature circle on December 1. His generous sharing of lived experience and thoughtful responses to participants’ questions deepened our collective learning and strengthened our commitment to supporting student well-being.
📚 Download the DSBN Reflection Guide for All The Little Monsters Literature Circle to work from:
We look forward to learning, growing, and taking action—together!
— The Chapters4Change Team
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