Written by Tasya
The month of May is known as mental health awareness month, and while fictional books featuring mental health have become increasingly popular, there are many that still feature stereotypes and the incorrect information. Naturally, these can be offensive to those who either suffer or know individuals who are currently or previously dealt with mental health.
In honour of mental health awareness month, I bring you my top five YA books that feature mental health which seem to give an authentic representation, especially with all of the positive comments they receive from the community. However, it is worth noting that one person’s experience will be different from the other. Just because it doesn’t seem like yours, doesn’t mean that the experience is not real or yours is invalid.
If you would like to find more information and details about mental health, please search for a mental health organisation within your country or visit the 13 Reasons Why Info page, which features information and contact numbers for each country.
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
Fangirl tells the story of Cath and her twin sister, Wren. They used to be huge Simon Snow fans, but as they grew older, Wren left the fandom while Cath stayed in it. This story is set during their first year of university and follows her worries and experiences. Many readers will be able to relate to Cath’s fear of living alone and away from home, but I must admit that this book is not my favourite mainly because how shy Cath is. But after reading several reviews, I see how many people with social anxiety sees themselves in Cath and that’s the first time I see how real it is, how it can affect so many parts of someone’s life. It helps give you a deeper insight and it will allow you to connect with others by being more understanding towards those with anxiety.
Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
Sam has OCD, purely-obsessional OCD, to be exact. Her minds are plagued with dark thoughts and worries that spirals out of control. What is enjoyable about this book is how supportive Sam’s parents are, as well as her amazing relationship with her therapist. This is the first time I’ve seen a positive portrayal of therapist and patients in media, without any tantrums or distrust. Sam is truly open and trusts her therapist, while the therapist herself is very helpful and you can see that she truly cares for Sam. The research is also done very well here, you can see from the way Sam’s thoughts processes are portrayed. But what’s more, her OCD is not all that there is to Sam as the author did a superb job in portraying the OCD aspect, but without making it Sam’s identity.
All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
All The Bright Places is the most heartbreaking book in this list and it tells the story of Finch, who is fascinated by death. He tries to jump off the bell tower, which is when he meets Violet, who is also ready to jump. Finch talks her out of it and they became closer. It might sound like your usual boy-meets-girl or typical “love cures mental illness” but trust me, it’s not. It doesn’t feel romanticised at all as their development (or downward spiral) seems so raw and real, which will make you feel both proud and sad throughout the book.
My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
Aysel plots her death all the time, but she’s not sure she could do it alone. She looks for a suicide partner from a website and she’s paired with FrozenRobot aka Roman. As they start to chat, Aysel begins to question whether she wants to go with it or not. This book presents a realistic and relatable description of depression and you also get to know the characters deeply since the book also discusses identity with Aysel being a person of colour and how your parents can define you. But throughout the series, she manages to see small positive things in her life and eventually, she realises that she still wants to do more with her life. It is such a positive thing to see and you’ll be happy to be part of Aysel’s journey.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
This book might seem out-of-place in this list as it is a fantasy book in a list of contemporaries. But our characters in fantasy books often undergo traumatic experiences, including assassination attempts, kidnapping, and war. However, they seem able to go on with their lives without those events affecting them. Six of Crows is the only book where I see the characters working out their past events and how they deal with the repercussions. The leader of the gang, Kaz Brekker, suffers from PTSD despite his fearsome reputation. He has touch aversion and wears gloves all the time, but he manages to turn it into a strength to add into his reputation. I love how he’s handled in this book, being part of the character instead of just being a plot point to add to the angst.
