Oct 14, 2015 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. Books, especially ya novels, possess the ability to provide comfort to those who find representation of themselves in a character with a mental illness, as well as to educate readers who find the subject unfamiliar. This is a reality so many teens experience, but its not explored quite as much as it should be. This year saw headlines about a string of suicides of young kpop artists and frequent news of celebrities deaths due to substance overdose, as well as the publication of some terrific and eyeopening books about issues related. This lyrical, profound contemporary novel takes an honest, mesmerizing look at the effects of grief and living with mental illness. Oct 02, 2018 over the last decade, the growth in ya books about mental illness is hard to overlook. Ya mental health mustreads of 2019 written word worlds.
This book describes what depression is like, and calls out the ridiculousness of existing stigmas about mental illness. Thats why it can be completely magical when you find a book that shows what its like to live with a chronic illness, disability or mental health condition. Books, especially ya novels, possess the ability to provide comfort to those who find representation of themselves in a character with a mental illness, as well as to. Jun 15, 2017 from one of our favorite authors comes a controversial yet surprisingly accurate book on mental illness. Not the taboo subject it once was, mental illness offers rich territory to explore in books for kids and teens. When one thinks of narratives about mental illness, the characters described are no longer limited to the subversive and villainous. The protagonist, mira, is a new student at saint francis prep in attempts to be normal and have a new start. Young adult authors arent pulling any punches in 2017. Using literature to confront the stigma of mental illness. Find me elsewhere goodreads hailsheartsnyc twitter hailsheartsnyc instagram. Mental illness and mental wellbeing are topics that keep emerging in contemporary ya, and they keep being explored in worthwhile even lifechanging ways. Books that feature characters dealing with mental illness.
Its not just books about people with depression, but a wide range of mental illnesses, traumas, disabilities, and processes. Mental illness portrayal in ya books doesnt have to be about the big things breakdowns and extreme reactions or lows. Exploring mental illness in ya literature rebecca alasdair. A lot of the time though, it can be difficult to find characters and storylines you directly relate to. Best ya novels of all time 20 ya books every adult should read. Discover the best popular psychology mental illness books in best sellers. We compiled a list of ya books wed read which deal with include people with brain disorders and mental illnesses in a very real, accepting, and hopeful way, and hope this list is. Rehabilitating sicklit one interpretation of mental illness. Jan 24, 2017 the characters in these books have two things in common. Its always been there, in part because writing about adolescents in any capacity means exploring a social group that is a cocktail of hormones that causes them tremendous physical, emotional, intellectual, and mental changes in a short time frame.
One of the reasons i am reading ya books about mental illness is to evaluate whether various disorders are authentically represented in the stories according to descriptions of the illnesses in the dsm5 diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 5th edition, 20. Whats more, empathy is listed along with comfort and decisionmaking as important components of strong leadership teaching skills. From theme to style, there are a lot of exciting developments happening in the ya novels of mental illness. Crazy author amy reed regularly draws on her own experience with mental health challenges in her books. Ive read quite a few incredible ya novels with mental health representation so far in 2019, so today i want to share some of my top favourites with you. From one of our favorite authors comes a controversial yet surprisingly accurate book on mental illness. Growing up is hard for everyone, but for someone with a mental illness, it can seem impossible. 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. Stories chronicling the struggles of young people and their friends, siblings, or parents who suffer from anxiety, depression, obsessivecompulsive disorder ocd, agoraphobia, an eating disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, hypochondria, and other illnesses make for engrossing. From heartwrenching and honest to lighthearted and funny, these 12 books accurately portray mental illness and help break the stigma that envelops our world today.
Check out last years videos for mental illness awareness week check out my new channel dedicated to psychology and mental health h. Suicide and the mental health crisis among africanamericans by. 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. Oct 10, 2017 according to will grayson, mental health days are little more than a luxurious day off for people who arent stuck with a chronic mental illness.
Feb 08, 2015 while james dawson is an amazing person for getting discussions going about topics such as teen sexuality and mental health, i wish my reaction had been able to be, oh, cool, another ya book. May 31, 2016 growing up is hard for everyone, but for someone with a mental illness, it can seem impossible. One thing that can help make it a little easier are ya novels that deal with mental health issues. These books traverse all aspects of mental health and mental illness, and theyre both fiction and nonfiction. Books can bring comfort to those suffering from mental illness and increase awareness among family, friends, and peers. So, in no particular order, here are some stunning ya books that handle mental health. Fans of the impossible life is one of many depression books i considered listing here. It would be better for teens if they were about the little things, to help teens understand what its really like and maybe even to realize what theyre experiencing and how their brain works might be more than they.
This means that we should give young people hope with mental illness, but also create an atmosphere that truly expresses what living with mental illness is like. Feb 21, 2017 young adult authors arent pulling any punches in 2017. Ya books about mental health young adult books about anxiety, ocd, depression, eating disorders, self harm, etc. This is a necessary, endearing, heartwrenching examination of the realities. The book deals with important themes like t reatment, improvements and relapses, daily struggles and overcoming the past. Im definitely a little biased because of my own experiences, but some of my favourite books are queer and have mental illness representation because thats me. Nov 04, 2019 50 mustread ya books about mental illness. Ya suffering from mental illness books and giveaway. Language and symptoms of mental illness in young adult.
Ya books dealing with issues relating to mental health and clinical psychology, first published in 2000 or later. According to will grayson, mental health days are little more than a luxurious day off for people who arent stuck with a chronic mental illness. Over the last decade, the growth in ya books about mental illness is hard to overlook. Nivens ya novel tells the heartbreaking story of two teens who have. Young adult books about anxiety, ocd, depression, eating disorders, self harm, etc. This list features very recent contemporary ya titles that have tackled mental illness in some capacity. The awardwinning novel focuses on teenage miles, and his encounter.
Since may is mental health awareness month, i asked some of my favorite authors of mental health ya, as well as and including authors who are also mental health professionals, to share their favorite mental health yas that get it right. For more, please see my recent blog post on ya novels of obsessivecompulsive disorder ocd at teen librarian. This year saw headlines about a string of suicides of young kpop artists and frequent news of celebrities deaths due to substance overdose, as well as the publication of some terrific and eyeopening books about issues. Nov 11, 20 mental illness and mental wellbeing are topics that keep emerging in contemporary ya, and they keep being explored in worthwhile even lifechanging ways. There are a lot of depictions of mental illness out there that feel super disingenuous. A deeply hopeful ya novel about living with mental illness thats perfect for fans of girl in pieces.
According to the national institute of mental health, 20% of kids ages 18 have or will have a. Oct 01, 2017 check out last years videos for mental illness awareness week check out my new channel dedicated to psychology and mental health h. Ya involving mental health issues 2000present 362 books. Score 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. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Mental illness is one of the most pressing health concerns of the modern age, and ya literature has a role to play in opening up the conversation on this longtabooed subject. I didnt know it then, but 20% of american youth are affected by some form of mental illness in their lifetime. Secondly, they all suffer with chronic illness, but their illnesses are what some might refer to as invisible.
Due to the uptick in mental illness among teens, books like these can be literal lifesavers for some kids as they seek to create empathy and fight the stigma surrounding mental health care. There are books about addiction, eating disorders, depression, schizophrenia, and. The protagonist, mira, is a new student at saint francis prep. The awardwinning novel focuses on teenage miles, and his encounter with the beautiful but emotionally unstable alaska young. If you have already read a book about mental health, all of these books can be used for a book recommended to you by library staff. But as psychological and medical advancements and new editions of the dsm help us further understand, categorize, and treat different issues, so too has ya evolved to reflect that. Add this to the list of ya books that were made into major motion pictures. Because sometimes you need a reminder that youre not alone, we reached out to the members of our facebook group and asked for their favorite books that portray mental illness and discussions of mental health well. 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. We received a mix of answers, including childrens books, young adult and adult books. Reading allowed me to escape, but it also showed me that i wasnt alone in my struggle. Aside from thirteen reasons why, these novels also teach us how to respect and understand mental health.
Unlike most of the other fantasy books youll see, the characters in six of crows suffer from ptsd and seriously struggle with it. Young adult novels are some of the most popular types of books out there. May 10, 2019 because sometimes you need a reminder that youre not alone, we reached out to the members of our facebook group and asked for their favorite books that portray mental illness and discussions of mental health well. Its important for ya novels to represent mental illness in a real and positive away. This is a necessary, endearing, heartwrenching examination of. Mental health in ya lit and serving teen readers books. Ya illness all young adult books, both fiction and nonfiction, dealing with illness, either mental or physical. Sep 18, 2019 why you should read these ya mental health books even if you have never dealt with a mental illness, chances are you know people who have them. Ya books about mental illness and mental health book riot. Aug 20, 2019 im definitely a little biased because of my own experiences, but some of my favourite books are queer and have mental illness representation because thats me.
Dec 04, 2017 mental illness portrayal in ya books doesnt have to be about the big things breakdowns and extreme reactions or lows. One of the most practical ways to combat stigma around mental illness is to raise awareness in society about it, and what better way to do that than through books. May 18, 2016 welcome back to another edition of yas that get it right, in which pros weigh in on ya books they think nailed an aspect of the human experience. Its not glamorous or special, its life destroying and difficult. I find reading to be a challenge sometimes, when im dealing with anxiety and depression. Ya books for mental health awareness the educators room. The characters in these books have two things in common. Instead, mental illness narratives are taking on a new role. One thing that can help make it a little easier are ya.
Its about so much more than mental illness which is why i love it so much. Due to the uptick in mental illness among teens, books like these can be literal lifesavers for some kids as they seek to create empathy and. Helping teens better understand their mental life, as well as better cultivating the language to openly communicate about it, are ya books about mental illness. While james dawson is an amazing person for getting discussions going about topics such as teen sexuality and mental health, i wish my reaction had been able to. Here i discuss some of the things to remember when writing about mental illness, and what ya books are currently out there. Its so rare to see a fantasy novel series that actually talks about mental illness, and thats precisely why six of crows is one of the best ya books about mental health. Why you should read these ya mental health books even if you have never dealt with a mental illness, chances are you know people who have them. Like, you can tell when an author is including something as a oneoff plot point instead of giving it the love and care it needs. Welcome back to another edition of yas that get it right, in which pros weigh in on ya books they think nailed an aspect of the human experience. Mental health in ya novels the little contemporary corner. Of course, there are infinite presentations of mental illness, and no single title can adequately encapsulate the variety of anyones experience. Ya novels with characters who have chronic or mental.