Mental Health Awareness Week: The Best Books to Read
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Highlighting some important books exploring mental illness…
Every May in the UK, Mental Health Awareness Week takes place. This important annual event began in 2001, organised by the Mental Health Foundation. Its aim has always been to raise awareness of mental health issues, break stigma and advocate for accessible mental health treatments and support. There are plenty of amazing fiction and non-fiction books that focus on mental health, which we will explore in further detail below.
BOOKS ON TRAUMA
The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri
The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a book I recommend to everyone, but the story will particularly resonate with trauma survivors. It is tense, tear-jerking, moving, raw and incredibly eye opening. Telling the story of Afra and Nuri, a married couple who leave their war-torn home in Syria to seek safety in England.
Though Afra and Nuri endure many traumas throughout, and we see how these traumas effect both their minds and bodies, the story is ultimately about hope and the resilience of the human spirit. The writing is beautifully descriptive, and there are numerous chapters scattered with humour and sweet moments between the two main characters. Additionally, the author did an incredible job at challenging the prejudices formed by the media towards refugees.
You can buy The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri HERE.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chboksy
Most people have watched the film adaptation of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, a coming of age story following Charlie, a introverted and troubled high-schooler navigating childhood trauma, friendship and self-discovery. And though the movie adaptation stays fairly faithful to the original source material, the novel explores the trauma within Charlie’s family in a lot more depth. The book goes into great detail on how traumatic experiences shape an individuals mental health, behaviour and life trajectory – as well as its impact on society as a whole.
You can buy The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky HERE.
It Didn’t Start With You by Mark Wolynn
It Didn’t Start With You is a fantastic non-fiction read for understanding intergenerational trauma. The author is a leading expert in his field, and uses personal stories and scientific research to explain how unresolved pain from previous generations can affect the lives of future generations. Wolynn also delves into how these traumas affect every aspect of a persons health, and emphases the importance of addressing these traumas to end the cycles of suffering.
You can buy It Didn’t Start With You by Mark Wolynn HERE.
Honourable mentions…
BOOKS ON BODY IMAGE
One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
Described by readers as fun, fast-paced and thoroughly entertaining, One to Watch follows a plus-size fashion blogger named Bea Schumacher, who stars in the reality TV show Main Squeeze. This appearance sets Bea on a journey of finding love, practicing self-acceptance, and challenging society’s unrealistic and harmful beauty standards.
You can buy One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London HERE.
Dietland by Sarai Walker
If you’re looking for a book that hones in on the worlds obsession with dieting, Dietland is definitely a book to add to your TBR. Plum Kettle is the main protagonist, a reclusive ghost writer hired to write for the glossy, popular teen magazine Daisy Chain. With constant fantasies of being thin, Plum pins all her hopes on undergoing weight loss surgery. While she waits for her surgery date, Plum encounters a radical feminist group who helps her confront past traumas, reject toxic beauty standards and live as boldly and authentically as possible.
You can buy Dietland by Sarai Walker HERE.
The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf
Feminist author Naomi Wolf published The Beauty Myth in 1990, and it has since become a classic in feminist literature. In her book, Naomi states that societal beauty standards pushed by advertising and the media are used to control women, undermine their achievements, limit their access to opportunities, and perpetuate self-hatred.
You can buy The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf HERE.
Honourable mentions…
BOOKS ON DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY
Normal People by Sally Rooney
Sally Rooney’s bestselling novel Normal People explores the complicated relationship between Marianne and Connell, two Irish students from different social classes, who begin an on-and-off relationship in their final year of secondary school. We follow their relationship all the way through to university, with a main plot point being Connell’s struggles in higher education. Though popular in school, Connell feels out of place and isolated amongst his peers at university, contributing to his anxiety and depression. If you’re looking for a story that explores class, identity and relationship difficulties – and how these factors affect mental health, Normal People is a fantastic read.
You can buy Normal People by Sally Rooney HERE.
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Anxious People was released in 2020, and follows a failed bank robbery that turns into a frenzied hostage situation. The author delves into the personal struggles of the eight strangers caught up in the events, including challenges with marriage, parenthood, finances and most prominently, mental health. This compassionate, funny and insightful story accurately portrays common mental health difficulties such as anxiety and depression, and shows how genuine human connection can bring about deep healing.
You can buy Anxious People by Fredrik Backman HERE.
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
If you want to read a book that accurately portrays depression, My Year of Rest and Relaxation is a great option. In NYC, an unnamed, unhappy 26-year-old woman choses to spend an entire year sleeping as much as possible, fuelled by prescription drugs. She believes her hibernation will heal the emotional pain and grief she feels after losing both her parents. She also hopes she will emerge with a new lease on life. The book explores the complexities of depression, and how those who suffer from it use numbing, medication and avoidance as coping mechanisms.
You can buy My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh HERE.
Honourable mentions…
BOOKS ON ADDICTION
Fire Keepers Daughter by Angeline Boulley
In Michigan, biracial teen Daunis Fontaine is navigating the death of both her uncle and best friend, alongside an FBI investigation into a community drug operation. Addiction is a significant theme throughout the book, highlighting the consequences of drug dependency whilst also exploring cultural identity, trauma and personal growth.
You can buy Fire Keeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley HERE.
Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
Wishful Drinking is a funny, heart-breaking and candid account of the life of Carrie Fisher, best known for playing Princess Leia in the Star Wars Franchise. Carrie takes us through her life, covering her unconventional childhood, rise to fame, marriage, and battles with addiction. She goes into great detail about her addiction to drugs and alcohol, as well as her time spent in rehab.
You can buy Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher HERE.
The Sober Diaries by Clare Pooley
Clare Pooley was a high-functioning alcoholic, drinking daily and hiding her struggles with addiction and anxiety from those around her. Realising she had a serious problem, she decided to share her experiences with sobriety through a blog. It was this blog that became the foundation of her 2017 memoir, The Sober Diaries.
