Here are their great recommendations. When I’m talking about mental illness, I’m talking about people with conditions that make them miserable, yet they go to work every day and live the same lives you do. If you say you have diabetes, people engage, ask about your medication, and say, oh you should not be eating rice, or potatoes, and so it goes. I love seeing more books that can display these illnesses for others to learn from. Even if you don't have a mental illness, reading a romance novel with a mentally ill character can help you better understand any mentally ill people in your life. Information about your device and internet connection, including your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Verizon Media websites and apps. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Books with thoughtful portrayals of characters who encounter mental health issues can offer middle grade readers comfort, connection, and inspiration. Because fictional characters can help us understand our own stories (as well as help us overcome our struggles), w e wanted to know what characters people with depression identify with. Th… And this space is where I am keeping all of my thoughts related to books, reading, learning, writing, and encouraging others in endeavors related to all things Literacy. The Bell Jar book. Like, you can tell when an author is including something as a one-off plot point instead of giving it the love and care it needs. Titus Alone, by Mervyn Peake Peake was never a well man, and suffered mental and physical setbacks throughout his life. The Artisan's Wife by Judith Miller - Ainslee is the main character, but her interest in a local mental hospital adds depth to this story, especially once she realizes Levi's brother is in the hospital. The temptation to examine the human condition through characters who think or behave in ways we find strange is a common theme in literature, and yet more and more of society is waking up to the fact that frivolous depictions of mental illness can have serious real-world implications. must-read YA books about mental health. Through the character of Septimus, a shell-shocked veteran of World War … Mental illness is something I have suffered with for a very long time, so I love seeing it done well in books. Zelda Fitzgerald is a tragic figure, a classic example a person with “high spirits” secretly suffering from a severe mental disorder. From beloved author and National Book Award finalist, Deb Caletti comes a fresh and luminous novel about the grief that can tear us apart and the people who can make us whole again. Almost. Some recent faves: How to Disappear by Roat (anxiety), The Art of Feeling by Tims (depression), A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares by Sutherland (multiple), Love and Other Alien Experience (anxiety) -- to name a few. About a teenage girl who is suffering from depression and results to suicide. Fortunately, some anime and manga depict mentally-ill characters in leading roles, depicting them sympathetically and asking the audience to root for and care about them. Like all of us, this space is a work in progress, so please be kind. If you’re interested in reading more books that incorporate this important subject, I’ve rounded up a few of my favorites below. 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. Many other characters are also suffering from mental illnesses including bipolar, anxiety, PTSD, and also depression. There are many compelling, well-written narratives that focus on mental illness or otherwise feature teen characters struggling with and coming to terms with them. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - It is clear that Hazel is suffering from terminal diseases... but she also clearly describes her struggle with anxiety because of her illnesses. Television is a particularly effective medium in which to explore mental illness because of its longer, serialized format. Nice list. Not the taboo subject it once was, mental illness offers rich territory to explore in books for kids and teens. We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Your goal in writing a character with a mental illness is the same as any other: To step inside them, and bring a world to life through their perspective. 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. This extreme set up is a wonderful glimpse into the lives of one who struggles with poor health all around. Books that contain characters we relate to can provide a way to transcribe the messiness in our minds and understand other people's emotions. Here are five popular fictional characters with mental illness: Scarlett O’Hara (Gone With The Wind) The archetypal character with Histrionic Personality Disorder. It might also help kids experiencing mental illness themselves feel less alone. 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