The Best Books For Your Mental Health…long after Mental Health Awareness Month ends

Though Mental Health Awareness month is coming to a close, it is important to be aware of all the resources out there all year round. The National Alliance on Mental Illness is a good place to start if you or someone you know is struggling.

It’s also important to highlight books with mental health representation so that readers of all ages can feel less alone. We’ve compiled a list of a few books that might be helpful to explore and recommend.

For younger readers:

A WORK IN PROGRESS by Jarrett Lerner

A recent NBC Nightly News segment alerted parents that one in three people diagnosed with an eating disorder is male, and experts think that number is even higher. 99% of eating disorder research focuses on women. Jarrett Lerner’s important book focuses on a young boy struggling with disordered eating and his body image and is an important and necessary book in the ongoing discussion of boys and mental health.

TAKING UP SPACE by Alyson Gerber

Alyson Gerber’s middle-grade novel also focuses on disordered eating. With TAKING UP SPACE, Gerber attempts to change the narrative around self-worth, body image, and food for the next generation. After a year of restrictions and lockdowns, disordered eating is on the rise, and it feels more important than ever to deepen our understanding of food trauma. Especially now, it is vital to provide more space for these conversations and stories — our health depends on it.

Drew LeClair Crushes The Case by Katryn Bury

The titular young sleuth, Drew LeClair, deals with anxiety in this series by librarian and author, Katryn Bury. Writing a character with anxiety was important for Katryn because she wanted to show young readers that a character can live with anxiety and still have fun and solve mysteries. She also uses her anxiety to her advantage. Drew’s anxiety heightens her senses and makes her more aware, making her a better detective.

Daddy & Me, Side By Side by Pierce Freelon, illustrated by Nadia Fisher

DADDY & ME, SIDE BY SIDE by Grammy-Nominated musician and author, Pierce Freelon,is a heartfelt and hopeful tale that touches on grieving the loss of a loved one as a father and son recreate old memories and make new ones in a day — long hiking adventure. Grief isn’t easy to process, especially for the little ones in our lives and this book could be helpful.

SOMEWHERE, RIGHT NOW by Kerry Docherty, illustrated by Suzie Mason

When the book’s main character, Alma, is faced with stressful circumstances, her family aids her in feeling better by closing her eyes and imagining something spectacular happening in the world around her. Heartfelt and meditative, this book is a great tool for children and families looking to quell anxiety and practice mindfulness.

For Older Readers:

STILL JUST A GEEK by Wil Wheaton

Wil Wheaton’s honest reflections on his past work, relationships, childhood traumas, depression and anxiety are nothing short of witty and brave. Marked by footnotes examining Wheaton’s 2004 book, Just a Geek, his updated memoir is a stunning portrayal of the power of accountability, healing, and growth.

GOOD ANXIETY by Dr. Wendy Suzuki

Combining brain plasticity research with her personal experiences with grief and anxiety, renowned neuroscientist Dr. Suzuki offers a compassionate and comprehensive guide to befriending this misunderstood emotion. Good Anxiety is a must-read for readers of all ages looking to improve their lives through sharpened self-awareness and embracing their emotions in full.

SENBAZURU by Michael James Wong

In Senbazuru, yoga and meditation instructor, Michael James Wong, guides readers through the meditative steps of Orizuru, the art of folding paper cranes, to teach an opportunity to slow down and focus on the present. Marked by calming illustrations and inspirational quotes, this book is the perfect guide for readers and craft connoisseurs looking to engage in self-care.

HAS YOUR CHILD BEEN TRAUMATIZED? by Dr. Melissa Goldberg Mintz

Dr. Melissa Goldberg Mintz’s parenting guide is invaluable in its masterful approach to strengthening parent-child relationships after an adverse event has occurred. Filled with clinical research, case studies, helpful strategies, and gripping anecdotes, this is a book that should be on every parent and caregivers’ shelf.

THE LOBOTOMIST’S WIFE by Samantha Greene Woodruff

After the horrors of World War II, the 1950s were filled with medical advancements and domestic suburban bliss. A new medical treatment emerged, claiming to cure conditions from headaches to severe mental illnesses in a few minutes: the lobotomy. The Lobotomist’s Wife explores this dark era in the history of medicine through the fictional tale of a megalomaniac doctor and his suspicious wife. Filled with rich historical detail and emotional twists, this novel is a thrilling reflection of how far mental healthcare has come today.

TALKING TO THE SKY by Aimee Mayo

Award-winning singer-songwriter Aimee Mayo opens up about past traumas growing up and into adulthood, and her journey in bettering her life once moving to Nashville, a prime country music scene. Much like her songs, Mayo’s voice is brave and memorable as she writes a story equal parts harrowing and humorous.

WHEN WORRY WORKS by Dr. Dana Dorfman

Achievement pressure is one of the primary catalysts to the youth mental health crisis. However, the pressure to obtain accolades doesn’t end with academics; while parents aim to support their teenagers, their own achievement anxiety lies under the surface. With over thirty years of clinical practice, Dr. Dorfman has created a crucial framework in identifying and mitigating parental worries through value-aligned decision-making.

BENCHTALK: Wisdoms Inspired In Nature by Nature Sacred

Twenty-five years ago, the idea that green spaces could make measurable improvements in peoples’ lives inspired the organization Nature Sacred to tuck the first journal in its pocket under a bench beneath a copse of trees at the edge of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, creating the perfect environment for something magical to happen. Now entries from the journals placed in Sacred Places around the country are being published, showcasing the wonder that takes place in nature.

The Only Way Out is Through: A Ten-Step Journey from Grief to Wholeness by Dr. Gail Gross

Dr. Gail Gross writes from the perspective of a human behavior expert, but also a mother grieving the sudden loss of her daughter. Blending personal memoir with analytical psychology, the book presents a thoughtful approach to healing after undergoing an unspeakable loss or life transition. For readers undergoing difficult life changes, Gross offers a way forward — not without grief, but alongside it.