", "This book really helped me deal with the depression I faced after my father unexpectedly passed away in February. ", "It's such a raw, unglamorized, and honest look into anorexia. That book means the absolute world to me. 266. 1. There, she is determined to find her mother, the bird. The hopelessness that Feyre faced and her overcoming it slowly and painfully resonated with my experience. 1. Nastya was in a horrible accident. It doesn’t sugarcoat anything and it puts into words just what obsessions feel like and how they affect everything we say or do. It’s so easy to misunderstand a mental illness, especially if you haven’t experienced the unique set of problems and worries that accompany it. Discover unique things to do, places to eat, and sights to see in the best destinations around the world with Bring Me! Obsessed with travel? Note: Responses have been edited for length or clarity. Amazing perspective on what depression is. I’m going to share 5 YA books with mental health representation that I’ve read and enjoyed and that are, if you ask me, a little bit underrated. Want to be the first to see product recommendations, style hacks, and beauty trends? Follow the BuzzFeed Community on. Here’s a list of 5 YA novels that brilliantly tackle mental health issues. A deeply hopeful YA novel about living with mental illness that’s perfect for fans of Girl in Pieces. Pan. Books. Funny, witty, and heartwarming — and well-researched at the same time. 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 first hand and second hand experiences. I’d even highlighted and annotated my copy, and once I brought it into my therapist’s office and showed her some passages because it put how I was feeling into words better than I could.". Here are just some of their must-reads: 1. It's about so much more than mental illness — which is why I love it so much. Shani Goloskov. It's about psychics and magic and love and tarot and sleeping kings and ghosts, but throughout it all, it weaves in themes of trauma, abuse, grief, and anxiety that the characters deal with and overcome. Today, I thought I would share a list of my own to celebrate this Mental Health month! 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. "An amazing portrayal of how mental illness can be part of someone’s life. The book seems like it would be a bummer, but it’s a blast in the right places and it gets serious when it needs to be. The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. One thing that can help make it a little easier are YA novels that deal with mental health issues. Then, I’m going to underline 5 other books I can’t wait to read! YA Books to Read. Definitely true to my experience. Not only is the representation of various mental illnesses expanding, but so is the ­sensitivity of their portrayals. ", "Such a great book surrounding OCD and mental illness. This is a fantasy novel that just happens to star characters who struggle with mental health issues, particularly PTSD. Self care and ideas to help you live a healthier, happier life. Mira, the main character, has a well-intentioned family, but they fail time and time again to see the realities of what depression is like and constantly let their disappointment show when she can't immediately 'snap out of it.' I felt that it was truly accurate, speaking from experience. It shows that sometimes, depression doesn't just affect one person. May 14, 2014 . This story is about the recovery and healing, not of the pain and sorrow. Truly my favorite book of all time. YA Books About Mental Illness You Should Read A good book is always better than a short article. It's dramatic, yet ultimately inspiring. Leigh, who is half Asian and half white, travels to Taiwan to meet her maternal grandparents for the first time. FOR MENTAL HEALTH MONTH . 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. ", "It's about a 14-year-old girl who suffers from social anxiety as a result of being bullied. King of YA, John Green’s Turtles All the Way Down focusses on Aza, a sixteen-year-old with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The book touches so many places in your heart and you really feel the love in the book. Those are a great way to learn more about what it's like to live with a mental disorder, but sometimes it isn't enough. Honestly, the ending completely brought me to tears, but it is definitely something I would read again. It was so beautiful. ", "It's great even if it did kill me with feelings. It is a book I turn to often when I feel that the bad days are winning. Our panel includes: Karen Fortunati, J.D graduated from the University of Scranton and received her law degree from Georgetown University. Sign up for our As/Is newsletter. Many YA books about mental health, in particular, have amazing words of wisdom for teens and young adults who are just starting to realize that something isn't right with their health. For many, the stigma around mental illness is decreasing; we’re opening up more, sharing resources, and rejecting shame. Discover the best Teen & Young Adult Fiction about Depression & Mental Illness in Best Sellers. It really is the perfect YA for anyone looking for a male main character dealing with mental illness in a very non-preachy way. must-read YA books about mental health. A Funny Middle Grade Book about Dogs, Crushes, and OCD, The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden (The Coincidence, #1), Loss of a Parent: Adult Grief When Parents Die, One of Us is Lying (One of Us is Lying, #1), The Boyfriend List: 15 Guys, 11 Shrink Appointments, 4 Ceramic Frogs and Me, Ruby Oliver (Ruby Oliver, #1), Maggie: Diary #2 (California Diaries, #8), Unbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens, Melissa Albert Recommends YA Tales Where the Real World Gets Real Magical. 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. One thing I particularly loved is how it sidestepped the common trope in YA where a depressed character is 'cured' of their depression after they fall in love. ", "It focuses on how a family member’s mental illness can affect their lives and offers a different perspective on mental illness in daily lives. 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