Hi everyone! As some of you may already know, this week is actually mental health awareness week, which runs from the 9th-15th May 2022. Mental health is a topic very close to my heart and something that has deeply impacted both me and some of the people closest to me, and so I thought it was really important that I share a few of my favourite reads featuring mental health issues.
Before I get onto the recommendations, though, I would like to say that if you are suffering from mental health issues you are not alone – in fact, around one in six people experience a common mental health problem every week (you can view more statistics on mental health here). If you or anyone you know is suffering from mental health issues please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’ve listed some helpful links related to mental health at the end of this post, so please make use of those if you need to!
When We Collided by Emery Lord
Thoughts: Honestly, I feel like Emery Lord is really underrated in YA, and When We Collided is one of my favourite books of hers! Vivi and Jonah were so special together but what really made this book stand out to me was the exploration of Vivi’s bipolar disorder, which was woven in and explored really nicely. Jonah’s mum also suffered from depression, so this one’s definitely worth picking up for mental health awareness week!
Am I Normal Yet? by Holly Bourne
Thoughts: There are so many Holly Bourne books that I could include on here, but Am I Normal Yet? was the first book I read by her and has a really special place in my heart. The exploration of Evie’s OCD in here was absolutely amazing, I loved that Bourne explored the depths and complexities of it and a side that I know some people may miss. I’d definitely recommend this to get more of a handle on OCD – I feel like the term’s used really loosely now which doesn’t do justice to how big an issue it can be.
All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Thoughts: It’s been a few years since I’ve read this but I still remember how much I loved it – I was crying so much at the end! Finch and Violet’s story was so tragic yet beautiful and it really stayed with me. Suicidal thoughts are a central part of this book, with Finch also suffering from bipolar disorder and Violet from PTSD, which definitely means it’s perfect for mental health awareness week – although if you personally suffer from these it may be a little triggering.
The Places I’ve Cried In Public by Holly Bourne
Thoughts: I had to add this on here! The Places I’ve Cried In Public deals with so many different topics – sexual assault, controlling relationships, emotional abuse/manipulation, gaslighting and cheating – in addition to the main character suffering from PTSD and social anxiety. The theme for this mental health awareness week is also loneliness, and I think this ties in with that really nicely!
Burn After Writing by Sharon Jones
Thoughts: Ok, so this one isn’t fiction, like the rest of the books on here, but it’s all about exploring your thoughts and innermost feelings, which pretty much translates to looking after your mental health. I haven’t picked this up in a couple of weeks now as I’ve been so busy but I can still vouch for how useful the prompts are, and I think it’s the perfect place to start if you want to get into journaling!
Useful Mental Health Links:
- Mind – for help with all things mental health, including supporting others. Call 0300 123 3393 to access their Infoline.
- Young Minds – for both young people and those supporting them, including parents/carers. For urgent help text YM to 85258.
- Samaritans – call 116 123 to access non-judgmental emotional support.
- Childline – for anyone under 19 going through any issue. Call 0800 1111 to speak to someone and get support.
- Mental Health UK – UK based mental health charity offering more resources, with three key programmes.
- Support Line’s Guide To Mental Health – helpful tips for dealing with mental health difficulties, as well as lots of handy links to more resources.
- Five Ways To Improve Health And Wellbeing – article on how to work on your mental health and make it a priority, with helpful tips and summarised points at the end of each heading.
- Mental Health Awareness Week Resources – resources to use in your posts to get people talking about mental health week.
Have you read any of these? What are some of your favourite mental health recommendations? Let me know in the comments!
I hope you enjoyed this post and took something useful from it.
Ceri
Read And Review It 
I’m so glad to see the topic being discussed in books now. It really does help to normalize mental health and remove some of the stigma. Thanks for sharing Ceri!
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Me too, it’s such a huge issue for so many people and seeing it talked about more is so promising and tackles that stigma head on! Thank you so much for reading and commenting Jodie.
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Thank you for including the links to mental health support. This will be useful for other people out there.
I’ve never heard of any of these books, but I’m adding to my reading list!
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I really hope so, that’s what I was aiming for! Ooh I really hope you enjoy them and take something from them, thank you so much for reading and commenting.
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Mental health is such a big topic currently. It’s good that authors are addressing and discussing it in their books. These books look like some interesting reads. Thank you for sharing!!!
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It truly is, it’s so sad how many people it affects! It’s definitely promising, thank you so much for reading and commenting.
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After going through quite the year emotionally and physically, I think these books are very needed in my life. Thank you for giving me some suggestions on books to read this year. My goal is to read 30 books in 2022, I think I can do it, especially with your help here 🙂
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I’m so sorry that things have been tough for you – but I’m so glad I could help! Good luck with reaching your goal, I’m sure you’ll smash it! ❤ Thank you so much for reading and commenting.
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This is such a great post, thank you so much for sharing it with us! I’ve heard great things about the book ‘bright places’ so I defiantly think I’m going to have to pick it up and give it a read. That being said, all these books sound amazing. amazing post lovely Xo
Elle – ellegracedeveson.com
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Thank you! Ooh yes, definitely give it a read – I hope you enjoy it and it makes you think as much as I did! Thank you so much for reading and commenting Elle xx
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I haven’t actually read any of these before, but they each sound beautiful! I’ll have to pick these up!
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They definitely are, I’d really recommend it! I hope you enjoy, thank you so much for reading and commenting.
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Great post, thank you for sharing. I haven’t read any of these so definitely need to add them to my tbr.
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Thank you! I hope you enjoy them when you get to them, thank you so much for reading and commenting.
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I agree that Emery Lord is underrated. One of my favroite books of all time was When We Collided. It helped me out of a very dark era of my life and helped me come to terms with some of my own mental health challenges. The rest of this list is great. I am going to look into the one by Holly Bourne.
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I’m so glad to meet another Emery Lord fan! When We Were Collided truly is such a beautiful and raw read and I’m so glad to hear that it helped you get out of a dark place. I hope you like it if you end up reading it, thank you so much for reading and commenting!
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Thank you for such a thoughtful post. I will make sure I will add these to my reading list. I didn’t know any of these titles so I’m looking forward to giving them a go when I can 📚❤️
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Of course, mental health is something that needs to be talked about! I hope you enjoy them when you get to them, thank you so much for reading and commenting ❤
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While I’m a huge fan of books that include great mental health rep, I’ve actually not read any of these. I did, however post to both TikTok and IG with my own recommendations. So now I’ll have to read your recs so I can include them next year in my round-up!
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I’m so glad I could bring them to your attention then! Ooh I’ll have to check out your posts there too for my post next year! I hope you enjoy them, thank you so much for reading and commenting.
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Amazing ideas, definitely something I would like
to read..
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I hope you enjoy if you do! Thank you so much for reading and commenting.
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Thank you so much for sharing this post. Mental health awareness is so important and this will certainly remind others that they’re not alone. Great list of books, I’ll definitely be checking them out. Hope you have a lovely weekend!
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Of course! Yes absolutely, it impacts so many people and it’s so important that it’s talked about. I hope you enjoy them, thank you so much for reading and commenting! Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend too.
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Thanks for sharing this list along with some helpful resources. I do find that stories and books really help to put things into perspective for those who may not fully understand how mental health can be different and affects different people. I think I will check out “The Places I’ve Cried in Public” by Holly Bourne.
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No worries at all! Yes absolutely, I know that some of these have been a real eyeopener to me and will really help other people understand these issues too. I really hope you enjoy it, thank you so much for reading and commenting!
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I haven’t read those, but I love the way you introduce books – not giving anything away, but still, making them interesting. And a warning about possible triggers is thoughtful!
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I’m so glad to hear that you appreciated it! And yes, including trigger warnings is so important, particularly with emotional reads like these. Thank you so much for reading and commenting!
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Great recommendations. Mental health awareness is so important. I was surprised (and educated I might add) by a comment on my blog when I had recommended meditation and found that someone couldn’t meditate as it would trigger an episode. I learned a lot from that and now always put on a rider on my blog.
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Thank you! Yes is really is, it’s so important that it’s talked about more and some of the stigma is removed. Oh wow that’s educated me too – and I love finding out new things and learning from people in the comments! Thank you so much for reading and commenting.
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I haven’t read any of these but they sound like they would be real beneficial reads. Always looking for insightful books around mental health. Thank you for sharing.
Lauren
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They truly are, I’d really recommend them! I’m glad I could help, thank you so much for reading and commenting.
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This is a great list and very much the topic I’m post interested in reading about at the moment. I’ve added some of these titles to my ever growing TBR list.
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Thank you! I’m really glad you’re interested in it and that I could help, I hope you enjoy them. Thank you so much for reading and commenting!
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What an awesome collection of books! When We Collided and Burn After Writing (especially the latter) both sound like fascinating and immersive reads and I love that you link up to helpful resources as well. ❤
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Thank you! Yes they truly are, I highly recommend them both – and of course, there are so many helpful ones out there so I felt it right to include a few! Thank you so much for reading and commenting ❤
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When we collided & all the bright places are some of my fave too!
Others that I’ve enjoyed had been Eliza & her monsters, we can’t keep meeting like this & reasons to stay alive (this one a nonfiction). Can’t get enough of those books who just make you feel understood!
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I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed them too! Oooh I haven’t read any of those yet, I’ve heard some great things about We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This though and it’s on my tbr! Thank you so much for reading and commenting and for the recommendations.
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Ah yes you should definately give them a try! 🥰
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I haven’t come across any of these books, Ceri, so thank you for highlighting some great novels. And I love that you’ve linked so many helpful resources for people to refer to as well, I’m bookmarking this for future reference so I can recommend it to any of my friends in need too, thank you x
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I’m so glad I could bring them to your attention then! And you’re more than welcome, I hope it helps them if they ever need to use it. Thank you so much for reading and commenting x
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I am happy to know that mental health topics/ issues are being written about for young readers. I know that I connected with books/ reading when I was young. I hope that’s the case for people today. Inclusion of these topics in daily discussion and providing it where they go for connection/ education is pivotal in helping reach and teach them. Of course, this is important for all ages, but I so worry for the young ones and want them to know they are not alone. Great list.
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I agree, it’s so encouraging to see! I connect with reading a lot too and seeing discussion like these happening is really great to see, it’s such a huge part of society now and needs to be included. Thank you so much for reading and commenting!
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I’m so happy to hear that mental health issues are discussed& talked about in books! I’ve read All The Bright Places and I’ll definitely want to read the other books! Thank you so much for sharing, Ceri. xx Penny | http://www.whatdidshetype.com
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So am I, it’s so important! Ooh I really hope you enjoy them, thank you so much for reading and commenting Penny xx
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I haven’t read any of these books before, I will have to check them out! Thanks so much for sharing!
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I really hope you enjoy them! Thank you so much for reading and commenting.
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This is such a helpful post thank you for sharing it. I’ve not read any of these but will definitely make the time too. It’s so important to raise awareness about mental health as so many suffer in silence.
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I’m so glad to hear that! Ooh I hope you enjoy them – and yes absolutely, it’s so important that people know they aren’t alone and there’s help out there. Thank you so much for reading and commenting!
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All the bright places is my all-time fave ❣️
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I love All The Bright Places too! Thank you so much for reading and commenting.
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I haven’t read any books in a couple of years which is really bad, I know. I mainly listen to podcasts and watch documentaries. However, I am intrigued by your book recommendations and want to look into getting some books ot read. There’s an Indigo book store down the street so I really have no excuse not to read some books. Thank you for your recommendations!
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Ooh podcasts and documentaries are fun too! Good luck with getting more into reading, I’m glad I could help with some recommendations. Thank you so much for reading and commenting.
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Very appropriate topic for this month, and mental health especially after the pandemic I think is a real issue for many. I love the looks of the book with the journal prompts. I love journalling, it is certainly a tool in my mental health toolbox. Thanks for sharing!
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Yes absolutely, the pandemic had such an awful knock on for so many people! I’m just starting to get into journaling too and I’m finding this really helpful so I’d definitely recommend trying it. Thank you so much for reading and commenting!
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Some of these books are already on my reading list but I think I need to add Holly Bourne’s books to my list. They sound amazing and right up my street. Thank you for sharing.
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Ooh Holly Bourne is incredible, I really hope you enjoy them! Thank you so much for reading and commenting.
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Great post Ceri! Thanks for sharing these resources. I’m looking forward to checking out these titles!
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Thank you! I really hope you enjoy them, thank you so much for reading and commenting.
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