Meet Linda and Patrick
Nancy Saunders of NSMoms introduces Linda Briggs and her son Patrick Kelly, and the story behind this series.
▶ Watch VideoA story told from both sides
In The Fog and the Silence , nurse and mother Linda Briggs and her son, Patrick Kelly, describe their experiences of serious mental illness (SMI) and the long journey toward recovery.
They illuminate the often misunderstood realities of untreated illness, changes in behaviour and relationships, and the challenges families face when trying to support a loved one. Their reflections make complex experiences recognizable and relatable to other caregivers.
For approximately a decade, Linda continued to support Patrick through crisis, uncertainty, and periods of estrangement. Throughout those years she kept a detailed journal, preserving events, observations, and memories of the person she knew beyond the illness. That record helps make this series possible.
Above all, these conversations speak to persistence, the importance of listening to families, and the possibility of recovery.
Watch the series
Five conversations and reflections, from introduction to conclusion.
The Fog
What anosognosia can look like from both sides. Anosognosia is a neurological lack of awareness of one's own illness, not simply a refusal to accept a diagnosis.
▶ Watch VideoThe Silence
What happens to patients and caregivers when communication between the mental health system and the family breaks down.
▶ Watch VideoThe Patient's Witness
Linda's journal: a record of events, the value of a caregiver's observations, and the importance of remembering the person beyond the illness.
▶ Watch VideoThe Light That Kept
Patrick and Linda reflect on the turning points, treatment, family connection, and the beginnings of recovery.
▶ Watch VideoAbout Linda and Patrick
Linda Briggs
Linda Briggs is a retired master's-prepared nurse and bioethicist whose career focused on helping families navigate chronic illness. When Patrick became seriously ill, she found herself on the other side of the healthcare system, struggling to be included in his care while still being asked to shoulder substantial caregiving responsibilities.
Over years of crisis and estrangement, she maintained a journal of her son's experiences and her own observations. It became a valuable longitudinal account of the illness, the family's experience, and the person she continued to recognize in her son.
Patrick William Kelly
Patrick is a writer, historian, and advocate based in Madison, Wisconsin. Beginning in 2016, a neurosyphilis infection affected his mood, cognition, and behaviour while bipolar disorder was also emerging. Years of diagnostic uncertainty, multiple medications, substance use, and strained family relationships followed.
He received a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder in 2020, but anosognosia made it difficult for him to recognize his need for treatment. In 2024, he entered treatment at Mendota Mental Health Institute in Wisconsin. With appropriate medication, therapy, and Linda's continuing visits, his recovery began. Today, sharing his experience is part of his advocacy.
About this series:
These videos share personal experiences and perspectives. They are intended for education and caregiver support, not as a substitute for individual medical advice.