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Books that Discuss Mental Health

Note: many of these books deal with topics that may be difficult for some readers, including suicide and abuse.

Fiction
	Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman Eleanor Oliphant avoids social situations by until she meets Raymond and Sammy, who are also isolated.		A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland In this LGBTQ+ fantasy novel, Prince Kadou struggles with anxiety and panic attacks, which he calls his “fear creature.”
	The Midnight Library by Matt Haig Nora Seed is at a point when she must make decisions about how she wants to live her life. This book explores what makes life worth living and Nora’s own feelings of hopelessness and depression.		25 Days ‘til Christmas by Poppy Alexander Kate Potter has been lonely and grieving the loss of her husband, but she wants to make Christmas perfect for her son, Jack.
	The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick Pat Peoples, the narrator of this book, leaves a mental facility and finds life changed. With a unique perspective, Pat navigates life, family, and therapy.		Starling Days by Rowan Hisayo Buchanan Mina’s mental health is struggling and her husband, Oscar, moves them to London from New York as they both try to help Mina to heal.
	Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason Even though her husband, Patrick, says she is fine, Martha knows she isn’t.		Borderline by Mishell Baker Millie, a woman living with borderline personality disorder, is recruited by the secret Arcadia Project to keep track of people entering and living a parallel reality.
	The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath This book chronicles the mental trauma and breakdown of Esther Greenwood.		At Night All Blood is Black by David Diop A graphic and harrowing novella about the physical and mental impact of war from the perspective of a Senegalese soldier fighting in the French army during WWI.
	A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon 61-year-old George Hall quietly grapples with his deteriorating mental health as family drama happens around him.		The Mad Women’s Ball by Victoria Mas The high-point of 1885 will be the Lenten Ball that showcases the “mad” women of the Salpetriere Asylum in Paris, run by Dr. Charcot.
	Bewilderment by Richard Powers After the death of his wife, Theo Byrne raises his son Robin, who struggles with emotional control, and explores the possibilities of experimental neurofeedback treatment.		Beard in Mind by Penny Reid A romantic comedy about Beau Winston and Shelly Sullivan, a woman who has obsessive compulsive disorder.
Nonfiction
	Because we are Bad by Lily Bailey Bailey’s memoir chronicles her childhood and struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder.		Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker Kolker focuses on the Galvin family in the mid-1950s as 6 out of 12 children are diagnosed as schizophrenic.
	Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb Gottlieb, a therapist, recounts her experiences working with patients and herself.		Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson Lawson’s comedic memoir about her struggles with anxiety and depression.
	Overthinking About You by Allison Raskin Raskin discusses the intersection of anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and depression with dating and relationships.		The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel A. van der Kolk Van der Kolk explains and explores traumatic stress and its effect on the brain, as well as various useful therapies.
	The Lonely Stories, edited by Natalie Eve Garrett Well known authors talk about being alone and loneliness.		An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison Jamison recounts living with bipolar disorder and treatment options she encountered
	Heavy by Kiese Laymon Laymon’s memoir considers the effects violence and abuse had on his body and mind, as well as his relationship with his mother and growing up Black in the USA.		Dear Friend, from My Life I Write to You in Your Life by Yiyun Li Li brings discusses depression and suicidal thoughts alongside validation found through reading other authors’ work.
	The Noonday Demon by Andrew Solomon Solomon presents a comprehensive analysis of depression through personal stories and interviews with people involved in many different ways - from scientists to philosophers.		Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig Haig’s memoir about struggling with depression.
	My Age of Anxiety by Scott Stossel Stossel provides an examination of living with anxiety, as well as a history of anxiety and its treatments.		Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen Kaysen describes living as a teenage inpatient at McLean Hospital for psychiatric treatment in the late 1960s.
	Just Checking by Emily Colas Colas approaches her obsessive compulsive disorder with humor.		Loud in the House of Myself by Stacy Pershall Pershall’s often shocking memoir chronicling her struggles with bipolar disorder, suicide, eating disorders, borderline personality disorder, and the American mental health care system.
	Headcase: LGBTQ writers & artists on mental health and wellness, edited by Stephanie Schroeder and Teresa Theophano A collection of writing and art about mental illness and LGBTQ+ identity.

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