Mental Health Awareness Month: 3 Nonfiction Books That Deserve Attention
To honour the coming end of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Month, I wanted to share 3 mental health books I have discovered (either recently or in the past) and why they’re important.
Rather than the typical self-help novel, I wanted to highlight a couple of insightful and educational novels that tackle stigmatized illnesses/disorders. I know there are plenty of titles out there, so if you have any you’d recommend, please let me know!
Each attached cover image is linked to an author profile.
Driven to Distraction by Edward M. Hallowell M.D.
Through humour, personal anecdotes, and years of research and education, he provides a well-rounded look into the lives of those with ADD and ways in which loved ones can support them. He describes the multitude of ways ADD/ADHD can manifest in children and adults, ensuring readers have an understanding of the complexity of the disorder and recognize the benefits as well. Dr. Hallowell emphasizes the unfortunate nature of describing it as a “disorder,” as people with ADD/ADHD are often very intelligent, creative, and empathetic – capable of extraordinary things.
As someone who knows a couple of people with ADD/ADHD, I’ve found it incredibly beneficial. Not only does it increase my understanding of what they have gone through/are still going through, it also opens up opportunities to ask how I might support them better and join them in celebrating triumphs.
Reading this has been full of SO many, “Oh, no way” and “That makes a lot more sense” moments. These moments have definitely made for compelling conversations with my ADD/ADHD pals, and they’ve expressed how nice it is to be candid about the good, the bad, and the ugly. I highly recommend this book if you’re looking to approach similar conversations and/or perhaps recognize some of the symptoms in yourself too.
(Goodreads)
The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida
Described as illuminating, charming, and heart-warming, The Reason I Jump is a memoir written by a 13-year-old boy with autism. He highlights the complexities of his own mind through FAQs, personal insights, and his unique outlook on life and the world. Though it hasn’t been easy at times, he maintains a witty, generous, and honest perspective throughout.
It has become a wonderful tool for parents and loved ones hoping to understand what it’s like inside the autistic mind and the incredible way in which it perceives and responds to different scenarios.
I have just started this book and am enthralled so far. It was recommended to me by a friend and I promise to see it through. Perhaps I’ll come back to this entry with an updated review!
(Goodreads)
The Collected Schizophrenias by Esmé Weijun Wang
This moving novel tackles the stigma surrounding schizophrenia and discusses differences in manifestation from case to case. Wang details the shortcomings of our social systems and educational institutions using both her time as a lab researcher at Standford and an intimate look into her day-to-day battle.
It not only provides educational insight into this misunderstood condition, it also allows room for connection – whether readers are hoping to understand their own fight with schizophrenia or how to ensure a loved one feels supported, this book sparks the discussion.
I read this for a university class a couple of years ago and it is still something I think about regularly. By reading this book, I was able to better understand what a friend of mine was going through and sympathize in ways I couldn’t before. So, rather than approaching the topic with hesitation and old fear, I accepted the ways in which I’d been ignorant and now only hope to continue learning to decrease the stigma and assumptions behind the diagnosis.
(Goodreads)
Again, if you wish to share a book recommendation that would help me deepen my own understanding of the topics above (or something entirely different), don’t hesitate to reach out!