Let’s talk about mental health. I don’t know about you, but this year has been a dumpster fire, and I need all the support I can get. So, in honor of May being mental health awareness month, I’m sharing eight nonfiction books about mental health I recently discovered and I’m adding to my TBR.
8 Nonfiction Books About Mental Health & Self-Care
Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey
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Part self-help, part social justice, this short read unpacks the toxicity embedded within productivity culture and how it’s fueled by capitalism. Perfect for those who want to break free from hustle culture and are seeking work-life balance and building their identity on factors not pertaining to their job or career. Purchase from Bookshop.org
Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before by Dr. Julie Smith
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Dr. Julie Smith is a clinical psychologist who gained notoriety on social media with her practical insights and advice regarding navigating mental health challenges. In her book, she arms you with expert advice and powerful coping tools, teaching you how to overcome anxiety, navigate criticism, heal depression, and build self-confidence. Purchase from Bookshop.org
The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health by Rheeda Walker
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This book explores the crisis within the Black community regarding mental health. Primarily, the lack of adequate support has led to stagnant growth and slow progress for Black Americans to receive the quality care they need to obtain proper mental health care. Purchase from Bookshop.org
Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski, Amelia Nagoski
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A feminist viewpoint regarding how burnout impacts women differently from men. Sisters Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski explore how sexism and misogyny contribute to this inequality. While providing insight on how to return your body to a peaceful state and why rest is necessary, human connection is crucial, and understanding your inner critic is essential for preventing burnout. Purchase from Bookshop.org
While You Were Out: A Memoir by Meg Kissinger
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Award-winning journalist Meg Kissinger shares her intimate family history, colored by mental illness. She shares how, on the surface, they had it all, but behind closed doors, both parents struggled with mental illness. Her mother battled anxiety and depression, and she was later hospitalized. And their father, who struggled with violent tendencies fueled by his mania. She deftly explores the systems that failed them and the love that held them together. Purchase from Bookshop.org
Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
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A thoughtful memoir exploring his journey with depression and how he reshaped his life with the help of his family, his passion for reading and writing, and his girlfriend (now wife). Purchase from Bookshop.org
But What Will People Say? by Sahaj Kaur Koli
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This deeply personal book from therapist, writer, and founder of @browngirltherapy, Sahaj Kaur Koli, challenges traditional therapy paradigms and self-care models. Growing up in a community where mental health discussions were met with concern over what others would say and think, and their perception of mental health. Her challenges learning how to navigate therapy while not denying her culture and need for community revealed the gaps in our current mental health treatment.
Now, she works to challenge these models to encompass a community-focused approach to treatment that prioritizes the individual with their personal healing journey as well as their collective healing journey. Purchase from Bookshop.org
Social (In)Justice and Mental Health by Ruth S. Shim
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Here lies the introduction to the concept of social justice and its role in the identification, diagnosis, and management of mental illness and substance abuse disorders. How unjust and oppressive policies and practices fueled by classist, elitist ideas regarding the inferiority of marginalized groups have led to a select few enjoying advantages, freedoms, and opportunities while others are denied these liberties. This provides insight as to why these inequities exist and how clinicians can navigate them. Purchase from Bookshop.org
These are just a few nonfiction books I’m eager to read as I do the internal work to unpack the internalized stigma regarding mental illness and mental health and work towards healing my complicated relationship with my mental health journey. Please share your favorite nonfiction books discussing mental health and self care! I’m always eager to find new books on this topic. Til next time, happy reading friends!
