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Book recommendations
Former Member
Posts: 4 Newbie
Hi everyone! I’m Sarita and I joined the youth panel a few months ago. I came up with an idea to have a book list on the mix website for people to read that can give them support, whilst they are either awaiting therapy or if they decided they didn’t want to have therapy, the books can be anything to do with mental health. I was hoping some of you would give any recommendations to help me create this book list! The books need to be suitable for any ages between 8-25. Thanks for the help!!
Post edited by JustV on
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Can they be work books aswell? if so i'm currently doing one called How to be happy (or at least less sad) and finding it very useful
One author I love is Torey Hayden - she works as a counsellor and special education teacher, and writes about some experiences she's had. The first one I read was called "Silent Boy", which really got me interested in her books, but to be honest any of her books would be a good read!
Another one I recently picked up is "Out of the Dark" by Linda Caine and Dr Robin Royston - another really interesting book on mental health and recoveryx
Much love
See how They Lie - about a teenage psychartic facilality
I know what you did last summer - about summer berevament camp
and jimmy cricket - in care and goes down wrong routes until his support worker mark helps
i found myslef getting lost in these book so love to read them oveer and over
and
Dear Evan Hanson (Musical)
Dare by Barry McDonagh is one of my absolute faves definitely helpful and isn't a hugely intellectual read you can understand it quite easily. It's definitely a hands on self help book so I would consider it for people who are willing and ready to improve.
Anxiety: Panicking about Panic by Joshua Fletcher is a great self help book for those new to anxiety who get debilitating anxiety. It's perfect for a recent diagnosis I read it when I first got diagnosed with my anxiety disorders it really explains the symptoms and your thoughts and normalises it so you don't feel so alienated or in danger.
I've read loads I can send those over too of you want more
This is probably one of the only books I like. It's very informative and very helpful 🥰
-Ash ❤
-Ash 💕
A few books that have really helped me:
- Lost connections - Johann Hari (explores how traumatic events can be a cause of depression)
- Women don't owe you pretty - Florence Given (self love and self belief)
- The Alchemist - Paulo Cuelho (a simple yet powerful fictional story with an insightful ending)
- Perfectly hidden depression - Robinson Rutherford (about people who don't show their depression, and don't have typical symptoms e.g. they able to shower, cook, work etc. The author is a therapist and gives real patient accounts. Very good if you hide your depression from everyone)
- The sun and her flowers - Rupi Kaur (poetry)
- The Midnight Library - Matt Haig (a fictional story about regretting your life decisions, and all the possible journeys you could have taken if you went back in time, and what they might lead to. TW suicide)
- Into the darkest corner - Elizabeth Haines (fictional TW abusive relationships, a good read if you have OCD)
- You are incredible just as you are - Emily Coxhead (an interactive self help book, she also does the happy newspaper which is all things good in the world - you can subscribe to the newspaper)
The perks of being a wallflower by Stephen Chboksny - it was one of the first books I read that had a prevalent theme of mental health, at the time I was very ignorant, oblivious, and in denial to what happening with me. I remember reading the letters and it was almost as if I was writing them or I finally had a friend who understood me.
I reread both books during the summer before starting college and after having a really eye open experience with my mental health. They both felt very apt choices for reading, both hit very differently as I finally understood why I was so drawn and felt so connected to them.
I also love the Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, always loved her work. I feel that people tend to read Plath almost entirely autographically, which I think is really reductive - the Bell Jar has some fascinating symbolism about food, fashion, conversations about civil war and the death penalty.
I will have to check out that book Am I Normal Yet, its sounds very interesting and helpful.
Also another great book I read was Turtles All The Way Down by John Green. It has a similar plot to Am I Normal Yet by Holly Bourne, as it focuses on mental health and dealing with OCD and anxiety in high school. I found the book very fascinating at times and sad as well, as it also deals with themes of grief. There is a tw scene in the book which I found gut wrenching at times. It's good read if anyone is interested