It’s been awhile since I did a Read to Resist post, but it’s back for Suicide Awarness Month! Or week. One of the two. I know I did a post about this last year, but I think it’s so, so important. Books are one of the ways that we can work against the stigma against mental health in society. Reading and supporting books that work with mental health in a positive way is especially important in teen books because of the target audience. Positive portrayals can help teens think about the stigma in different ways.
According to the CDC, an average American’s likelihood of dying by suicide rose by 33% from 1999 to 2017. In fact, the youth suicide rate is the highest it’s been since the government started collecting statistics in 1960. This correlates with the fact that mental health issues are on the rise in young adults, as according to the Los Angeles Times:
…just over 13% of Americans between the ages of 12 and 25 had symptoms consistent with an episode of major depression in the previous year — a 62% increase in eight years.
There are plenty of reasons that contribute to this, and it shows how important it is to talk about mental health. These five books work toward getting rid of that stigma around mental health.
Suicide Awareness
1. Brave Face by Shaun David Hutchinson
This memoir by popular YA author Shaun David Hutchinson chronicles his own struggles with depression and suicide as a teenager. What I thought was fantastic about this book was the inclusion of trigger warnings. Hutchinson warns the reader of difficult scenes and lets you know what page to skip to if necessary, which is hugely important. It’s a very real look at struggles with depression, suicide, and coming out, and I think everyone needs to read it.
2. What I Leave Behind by Alison McGhee
McGhee tells this story in a series of 100 word stories, showing how Will struggles with his father’s suicide. Not only is he trying to cope with his own grief, he’s also trying to figure out how to help his childhood friend, who is dealing with the trauma of sexual assault. Short by powerful, there’s a lot in this book to think about.
3. (Don’t) Call Me Crazy edited by Kelly Jensen
This book is an edited collection of stories about mental health from popular YA authors, like Victoria Schwab, Adam Silvera, etc. Each author examines the way that mental health has affect their own persona life and how they’ve worked through it. Seeing these real struggles can really help those reading feel like they’re not alone.
4. More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera
The Leteo Institute allows people to erase unwanted memories, which would allow Aaron to change from gay to straight. But will that really make him happy? Not only is Aaron dealing with his own sexuality, depression, and anxiety, but he’s also struggling to deal with his father’s death as well. Adam Silvera is never afraid to flinch away from difficult topics, and his debut definitely shows that.
5. We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson
Okay, I’m cheating a bit by putting two of his books on here. But oh well. In typical Shaun David Hutchinson fashion, it’s unclear what is real and what isn’t in this book. Henry has to decide whether or not the world is worth saving. With the loss of his boyfriend to suicide, Henry doesn’t think he has much to live for. So what’s the point? A realistic look at mental health with a touch of the surreal.