5 Nonfiction Books To Read For Mental Health Awareness Month
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we couldn’t be more glad for the opportunity to speak about a topic so necessary and important. Mental health has been ignored for far too long — sweeping trauma under the rug was normal, suppressing emotions was expected, and therapy was seen as something only certain people needed.
But thankfully, we live in an age during which mental health is finally being given the attention and respect it so deserves — because mental health is just as important as our physical health. Leaving our past hurts and current anxieties to fester is just as harmful to us (if not even more) as leaving a broken leg alone.
So in honor of this month, when we return our attention and conversations to the importance of pursuing good mental health, here are 5 nonfiction books you’ll want to read before the month is out.
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
We think of mental health as something we don’t physically experience, but The Body Keeps the Score tells us a different story, instead highlighting the fact that our bodies actually ‘keep score’ of our unresolved trauma and could eventually lead to autoimmune disorders among other issues — shining a light on an entirely new facet and understanding of how our mental health is inextricably tied to our physical health.
Different by Sally and Nathan Clarkson
Written by a mother and son duo, Different offers the perspective of a mother who knew her child was different, and a son who’d always struggled with feeling ‘wrong’ due to his OCD, ODD, and ADHD diagnoses. Teeming with touching stories, words of wisdom, and thoughtful encouragement, Different is the perfect book for those who love someone who struggles with mental illness.
Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
In Boundaries, Cloud and Townsend teach us the much-needed art of saying ‘no’ and drawing boundaries, the act of communicating and maintaining values as a way of protecting our personal freedom and mental health. Using real stories that can be easily applied to our own circumstances, Cloud and Townsend outline how to lovingly yet meaningfully set boundaries in our relationships.
Self-Compassion by Dr. Kristin Neff
Anyone who struggles with self-esteem knows the battle between positive and negative voices going on in our heads constantly and has probably tried self-pep-talks or just faking confidence until it feels real — but Self-Compassion teaches us that one of the most important ingredients in building healthy self-esteem is growing in compassion towards ourselves and learning the valuable tools that will help us stop beating ourselves up by reframing our self-criticism.
The Wounded Heart by Dr. Dan Allender
The Wounded Heart expertly explores a heavy subject — the deep damage that sexual abuse causes to one’s soul, mental health, and well-being — with intelligence, wisdom, and sensitivity. Allender also tackles false memory issues, assures the reader that healing is possible, and shows them a concrete way forward. Despite handling such a difficult issue, The Wounded Heart manages to feel like a safe place.