Below are some of my favorite books which offer a refreshing perspective on mental health conditions, breaking through the cultural, social, and political barriers that can keep people from speaking openly. A black womans journey through depression by meri nanaama danquah. Im not big on selfhelp books or overly academic scientific research. Many staff members across our 100 branches are participating, and recently we asked them what their picks and recommendations are for a book about mental health. Even if you have never dealt with a mental illness, chances are you know people who have them. Its essential reading for anyone who is affected byor seeks to understand mental illness. This is the type of book that will stick with you a while, particularly if you have a friend or family member who has a mental illness. May 04, 2016 if you want to better understand different mental health issues and how psychiatric treatment has evolved, the 16 nonfiction books about mental illness listed below are a great jumping off point. Because sometimes its hard to explain or understand on your own. A magnificent gift to those of us who love someone who has a mental illnessearley has used his considerable skills to meticulously research why the mental health system is so profoundly broken. As mental health struggles get more time in the spotlight, mental health nonfiction books have been cropping up aimed a variety of demographics. May 24, 2017 on sunday, in honor of may being national mental health month, i posted my ten favorite fiction books about mental illness. Nonfiction books about mental hospitals memoirs from patients or doctors, or just books about the running or history of mental hospitals. Jun 12, 2018 mental health, along with the illnesses that can plague us, make up some of the most taboo, stigmatized topics of discussion within our society today.
I mustve spent a year on itgetting everything perfect. The following list of books about mental illness contains fiction, graphic novels, nonfiction, memoirs, biographies, and more, all books that broaden our understanding of mental illness from. Here are 20 books, fiction and nonfiction, with mental health as the main subject or playing a. Reading about mental health can help us gain insights into why certain behaviours happen, and how to deal and cope with them, whether for ourselves or for someone dear.
The top 5 depression nonfiction booksmemoirs bexcapades. The book deals with important themes like treatment, improvements and relapses, daily struggles and overcoming the past. This book should be required reading for all politicians and legislators. May 23, 2016 may is mental health awareness month and a great time to explore the many writers who write on diverse topics related to mental health and mental illness. What are some good books about mental illness, fiction and. Oct 14, 2015 11 books that will change your perspective on mental illness. Its a mix of memoirs and psychology books, but i kept the list to books that i think would be accessible and interesting to nonpsychology majors. This brilliant, provocative book will force patients, practitioners, and prescribers alike to rethink the causes of mental illness and the methods by which we treat it. In this collection, ten writers confront the stigma of mental illness headon, bravely telling stories of devastating depressions, persistent traumas, overwhelming compulsions, and more. Heres a list of my favorite nonfiction books on mental illness. Peoples is the protagonist of the silver linings playbook, a touching and entertaining novel by matthew quick that captures the experience of someone living with a mental illness. Find me elsewhere goodreads hailsheartsnyc twitter hailsheartsnyc instagram.
Quick that captures the experience of someone living with a mental illness. Poussaints book offers a clinical examination of the dissonance. We asked members of the buzzfeed community to tell us about their favorite ya books that deal with mental health and mental illness. Historically speaking, society has always had a difficult time equating mental illnesses with the same sincerity physical illnesses foster. Reading about mental health can help us gain insights into why certain behaviours happen, and how to deal and cope with them, whether for ourselves or for someone. If you want to diversify your reading list and learn something new at the same time, you. Jan 16, 2017 10 books to help children understand mental illness while we want to shield our kids from concern, health professionals recommend educating kids and teens about mental illness.
Books that feature characters dealing with mental illness. Best non fiction books about insane asylums or extreme mental illness. There are so many things in the text that i can identify with, and i will definitely be lending it out to friends to see if they feel about it like i do, since i know their points. Melanie weaver march 11, 2017 autobiography, health, medical, memoir, mental health, nonfiction, selfhelp. Oct 12, 2017 with mental health awareness week on us, perhaps one of the ways for us to understand mental health is to read stories about it or personal narratives, whether fiction or non fiction. Oct 18, 2018 while his books for children are usually full of jokes, haigs bestselling nonfiction titles for adults, reasons to stay alive and notes on a nervous planet, both explore his own struggles with. Common sense media editors help you choose books that feature characters dealing with mental illness. In fact, many options are now available just for teens.
A book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. If youre interested in reading more books that incorporate this important subject, ive rounded up a few of my favorites below. Discover the best popular psychology mental illness books in best sellers. Inspirational books and self help books for teens barnes. Mental health and social problems is a textbook for social work students and practitioners.
May 21, 2017 11 best nonfiction books about mental illness doree weller says. This list of the 50 best mental health and addiction memoirs encompasses a wide scope of diagnoses, functionality, and experiences as diverse as the spectrum of mental illness. Aug 22, 2019 non fiction on mental illness recommendations. Kids and teens work out depression, anxiety, and more in these compelling stories. Matt haig suffers from depression like 20% of people. Non fiction non fiction books on mental illness available in the edcc library darkness visible. A memoir of moods and madness by kay redfield jamison, the center cannot hold. Mar 11, 2017 mental illness neednt be debilitating any longer with the vast amount of research thats gone into its causes and treatment. This list looks at great resources for those who are struggling with mental health issues or want to help someone that is. The man who mistook his wife for a hat and other clinical tales by oliver sacks. Addressing bipolar disorder, ocd, trichotillomania, selfharm, ptsd, and other diagnoses, the twenty fascinating stories collected in show me all your scars vividly depict the difficulties and sorrowsand sometimes, too, the unexpected rewardsof living with mental illness.
Popular mental illness non fiction books goodreads. A mix of fiction and nonfiction, these books show what its. Memoirs of mental health and addiction can also fill in the gaps of knowledge that those on the outside need to relate to those struggling with mental illness and addiction. I wrote my first nonfiction book 1215 years ago under a pen name. Ive seen the gamut of mental illness, all the way from mild anxiety to fullblown psychosis in a bipolar disorder or schizophrenic or depressed patient. I am especially keen to check out dodies book, secrets for the mad. Oct 08, 2018 nonfiction books are not really my usual thing, especially when it comes to mental health. Turtles all the way down by john green, challenger deep by neal shusterman, the bell jar by sylvia plath, its k. A meditation on depression and the dark night of the soul by tim farrington, last night, a.
Chasing the chaos of mental illness sheila hamilton. From underland to know my name, here are the 10 best nonfiction books of 2019. The book deals with important themes like t reatment, improvements and relapses, daily struggles and overcoming the past. The injury is visually evident, and, for the most part, the treatment is the same. Its honest, compelling, and laughoutloud funny, and i love jenny lawson for writing it. Best sellers in popular psychology mental illness books. Uncovering the real causes of depression and the unexpected solutions by johann hari, lif. Take a look at these nine mental health nonfiction books that teens might actually read or at least browse for information.
The psychiatric establishment and the health care industry have shifted 180 degrees from blaming mother to blaming the brain as the source of mental disorders. The 18 frank, often intimate true stories collected in same time next week reflect the writers struggles to overcomeboth as professionals and as individuals, as current therapists and as former patientsthe challenges presented by depression, bipolar disorder, ocd, and other mental disorders. Typpo ages 912 an illustrated story to help children understand and cope with the problem of alcoholism or other drug addiction in the family. Suicide and the mental health crisis among africanamericans. Ya books about mental illness and mental health book riot. Will i ever be good enough healing the daughters of narcissistic mothers the first book for daughters who have suffered the abuse of selfish, selfinvolved mothers, will i ever be good enough. Girl, interrupted, though one of the more wellknown books or movies about mental illness, is certainly not the only popular representation of mental illness out there, but it has, maybe more so than others, resonated deeply with young women. May, 2014 there is a great tradition of mental illness in fiction. Books for children and teens who have parents with mental health conditions, including substance abuse an elephant in the living room the childrens book by jill m. The victorians loved stashing mad women up in towers or attics, where they could sloly peel the wallpaper from the walls or moan and. Bebe moore campbell, author of 72 hour hold former washington post reporter pete earley had written extensively about the criminal justice.
Winner of the best book award for psychology and mental health winner of the international book award for self help and relationships best new nonfiction book of the year finalist by usa best book awards foreword indies book of the year awards finalist readers favorite award. We received a mix of answers, including childrens books, young adult and adult books. My life with aspergers by john elder robison, sickened. One of the funniest and most poignant books ever written about a mental illness, agorafabulous. The way we treat mental illness in the united states is a disgrace. The truth about drugs and mental health by elliot valenstein. Can picture books meet the crisis in childrens mental health. Fiction books about mental illness for teens now thats. Other fiction and nonfiction books some of them true classics can help fight prejudice against mental illnesses and disorders. These books traverse all aspects of mental health and mental illness, and theyre both fiction and nonfiction. The characters have goals, relationships and obstacles, just like everybody else. For mental health awareness week, i thought id chat about 10 books about mental health that are on my wishlist, tbr, or that ive read. Nonfiction books can be really educational when it comes to learning about mental health conditions, but fiction books can help you connect with people and see what its actually like for people have mental illnesses. Non fiction on mental illness recommendations youtube.
Best nonfiction books about insane asylums or extreme mental. According to the most recent data from the national institute of mental health, one is six adults in the united states live with a mental illness. With mental health awareness week on us, perhaps one of the ways for us to understand mental health is to read stories about it or personal narratives, whether fiction or nonfiction. Furiously happy focuses on the author and her struggle with mental illness. A familys struggle with anorexia, by harriet brown its a mothers memoir. May 02, 2019 there are many compelling, wellwritten narratives that focus on mental illness or otherwise feature teen characters struggling with and coming to terms with them. The womens movement bolstered the antipsychiatric mood with a reworking of alice jamess idea that mental illness in women was a. There are books about addiction, eating disorders, depression, schizophrenia, and more, as experienced by the teen main characters. This list recommends 44 books to help kids ages 312 understand emotional and learning challenges. Get it right, please a np evaluates patients, diagnoses, orders medication if needed and does education around mental health issues. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
Nonfiction books are not really my usual thing, especially when it comes to mental health. There is a great tradition of mental illness in fiction. With more and more children seeking psychological help, matt haig is one of a. Sense publishers has a catalogue of over 1500 titles concerning educational nonfiction, with a growing category of books about mental health. If you suffer from it or love someone who does, take a look at these books to help you better understand the situation. Oct 04, 2016 will i ever be good enough healing the daughters of narcissistic mothers the first book for daughters who have suffered the abuse of selfish, selfinvolved mothers, will i ever be good enough. Some of their titles include the successful dsylexic by neil alexanderpasse, and education, disability and. The victorians loved stashing mad women up in towers or attics, where they could sloly peel the wallpaper from the walls or moan and groan with such abandon that it would frighten the young governesses trying to catch some sleep down below.
These nonfiction books have gone against the tide by helping to normalise discussing and learning about mental health in an accessible and. Yet the stigma of mental illness remains, leading many to face their difficulties in shame and silence. Over the last thirty years, there has been a radical shift in thinking about the causes of mental illness. Books shelved as health n mentalillness nonfiction.
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