Mental Health Awareness Month: A comprehensive reading guide for anyone who’s struggling right now

According to the World Health Organization WHO depression is among the leading causes of disability while suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15 to 29 yearolds The stigma surrounding mental health has for long prevented people from seeking help In the middle of arguably the biggest health crisis in modern history the need to break taboos and raise community awareness has never been more important As the US marksMay as Mental Awareness Month we have rounded up a list of books that will help readers understand identify and cope with mental health issuesDonrsquot Call Me CrazyGeared toward young adults Donrsquot Call Me Crazy by Kelly Jensen is designed to be a much needed ice breaker that enables families to talk about the taboo subject of mental health The book is an anthology featuring essays illustrations lists and comics that explore a myriad range of topics from mental health stigma to understanding how everyonersquos brain is wired differently through deeply personal experiences with mental health This book can be the first step towards letting go of the notion of lsquocrazyrsquo to make way for unabated conversations in the household The HoursWinner of the 1999 Pulitzer Prize lsquoThe Hoursrsquo by Michael Cunningham is an engrossing tale of three distinct women across decades The narrative follows prolific writer Virginia Woolf during World War II and contemporary characters Mrs Brown and Clarissa Vaughan Institutionalised multiple times Woolf was troubled by her mental illness throughout her life while the other two protagonists had their own struggles with despair The book was made into an Academy Award winning movie starring Meryl Streep Nicole Kidman and Julianne MooreMarbles Mania Depression Michelangelo and Me The autobiographical graphic novel explores the relationship between creative and crazy as readers follow American cartoonist Ellen Forneyrsquos journey as an artist suffering from bipolar disorder Forneyrsquos struggles to find mental stability while retaining her creativity lead her to unravel stories of world renowned artists including Vincent Van Gogh and Sylvia Plath who also suffered from mood disordersAfter BirthThe joys of motherhood have long overshadowed the conversation around the mental and physical health of new mothers Mainstream media has only recently started making space for the more difficult conversations including miscarriages and clinical depression post pregnancy egged on by personal testimonies of women who have chosen to speak up lsquoAfter Birthrsquo is revolutionary by that measure as the 2015 book chronicles the physical and mental toll of child birth and motherhood Author Elisa Albert touches upon themes such as postpartum depression with insight and humour that engages yet never overwhelms the readersWhat to do When You Worry Too MuchWe all have our days when we find ourselves in a spiral obsessively worrying about mundane things that wonrsquot really matter As adults wersquove developed our coping mechanisms that help us move forward but often have no clue how to deal with a kidrsquos anxiety lsquoWhat To Do When You Worry Too Muchrsquo by Dawn Huebner is a kidrsquos guide to overcoming anxiety The behaviour therapy book is designed to teach schoolage children techniques to overcome anxiety worry and fears through selfhelp exercises and strategiesThe Shame Factor Having a distorted sense of self lack of trust in others feeling worthless are some of the most typical symptoms of shame an all too common yet often misunderstood emotion that has a tremendous impact on mental health In lsquoThe Shame Factorrsquo popular clinical psychologist Stephen B Poulter delves into the root cause of shame in our lives and explains the differences between the emotion and commonplace guilt Through simple guided exercises the book is aimed to teach readers to recognise triggers that arouse negative emotions such so they then can move toward healing and lasting happiness