Tallahassee Author Shares Emotional Memoir on Spouse's Mental Illness

Kay L. Harris chronicles her journey navigating her husband's severe depression and the toll it took on her family.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Tallahassee author Kay L. Harris shares her deeply personal memoir, "What Love Can't Fix," which chronicles her emotional journey navigating her husband's severe mental illness. The book offers a candid and vulnerable look at the challenges of being a caregiver and the toll his depression took on their family.

Why it matters

Harris's memoir provides a voice for caregivers dealing with a loved one's mental health struggles, an experience that can often feel isolating. Her story sheds light on the realities of living with and supporting someone with a chemical imbalance and inherited predisposition to depression, an issue that impacts many families.

The details

In her memoir, Harris details how her husband Tom's mental health issues emerged during their marriage, including cycles of depression, hypomanic spending, and physical health problems. Despite her efforts to support him, Harris struggled to maintain her own well-being and dreams, such as becoming a published author. The book explores how the family coped through music and faith, while also candidly addressing Harris's growing feelings of emotional abuse and the need to prioritize her own self-care.

  • Harris will launch her book at a Zoom party at 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 12.
  • Harris will hold an in-person book signing at Hearth and Soul in Tallahassee on Sunday, March 1 at 2 p.m.

The players

Kay L. Harris

A Tallahassee author who has written a memoir about navigating her husband's severe mental illness.

Tom Harris

Kay's husband, who struggled with depression and other mental health issues throughout their marriage.

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What they’re saying

“My intent was to share what a caregiver's journey is like, and to give these unsung heroes a voice. It certainly isn't a self-help book. I wanted the emotion to reach from my heart to the reader's heart— especially those who can relate, due to their own experiences.”

— Kay L. Harris, Author (tallahassee.com)

What’s next

Harris's memoir has been selected for inclusion in a forthcoming collaborative book edited by Jack Canfield, co-author of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series, expected to be published in late 2026 or early 2027.

The takeaway

Kay L. Harris's powerful memoir "What Love Can't Fix" offers a raw and honest portrayal of the emotional toll of caring for a loved one with mental illness, providing a much-needed voice for caregivers and shedding light on an often misunderstood experience.