Librarian’s picks: Books address mental health issues

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and according to the National Center for Children in Poverty, 20 percent of teens suffer from mental health issues and nearly 30 percent have depression before adulthood.

In general, the teen years already are a soup of emotions and uncomfortable experiences. Adding a mental illness can be even more overwhelming.

Concentrating on mental wellness can help teens and adults help themselves through coping skills, support and taking care of their physical health.

Here are some books that focus on characters with mental health issues. Some develop coping mechanisms and some don’t, but there are lessons for all about empathy, and learning that it’s OK to ask for help.

Challenger Deep

By Neal Shusterman

HarperTeen, 2015

For age 13 and older

Fifteen-year-old Caden lives two lives. In one, he’s a paranoid high-schooler convinced someone wants to hurt him. And in the other, he’s on a mysterious ship led by a one-eyed pirate captain with a talking parrot. Gradually, one side of his life begins to intrude on the other until he’s no longer sure which is real and which is just an illusion. After he’s hospitalized, Caden struggles to make sense of his life, his mental illness and his future.

This deeply moving story also is very personal. The author based the main character’s illness on his son Brendan’s schizoaffective disorder and psychiatric care. Brendan serves as illustrator for this novel (his drawings are part of the story) and his input adds authenticity with fantastical, and sometimes confusing, elements.

Compulsion

By Heidi Ayarbe

Balzer + Bray, 2011

For age 12 and older

Jake Martin is his high school’s star athlete. People think it’s because he works hard, but Jake knows it’s because of the numbers — they keep his family safe, they give him power, and they suppress his anxiety. Jake’s compulsion to count and to do things at specific times is taking over his life. But he knows he needs the numbers to maintain balance. If he stops, everything will be ruined.

This riveting and complex story takes an honest look at obsessive-compulsive disorder and manages to frame its struggling main character as conflicted, brave and determined. When the reasons for Jake’s obsession with numbers are revealed, it’s heartbreaking and tense. Jake ultimately has to face the fact that his life can’t continue this way.

Crazy

By Amy Reed

Simon Pulse, 2012

For age 13 and older

Connor is in love with Izzy, but over time, he realizes that her erratic mood swings are not normal. As she becomes increasingly self-destructive, he struggles to save her, or at least to stop her.

Though the details are important and deal with sensitive matters, this is a relatable and gritty story. More than one reviewer has referred to this as a “beautifully written train wreck” for good reason — it hurts, but readers won’t want to look away.

Cut

By Patricia McCormick

Perfection Learning, 2011

For age 12 and older

Callie cuts herself — never too deep, as she doesn’t want to die. But the cutting relieves the anxiety; it lets the screams inside come out. When she is sent to a treatment facility against her will, she is determined to say nothing, do nothing and share nothing. But how long will her screams stay silent?

Ultimately, this emotional book discusses the difficulty in someone who feels powerless finally being able to find her own authentic voice.

Fig

By Sarah Elizabeth Schantz

Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2015

For age 12 and older

Fig has trouble knowing what is real and what isn’t. Between dealing with her own mental illness and her mother’s schizophrenia, the aspects of her life are converging into a threatening, fearful blur. She’s convinced that if she keeps up her daily “sacrifices” (don’t touch metal, avoid all water), her mother’s health will improve.

As Fig’s behavior becomes more self-destructive and increasingly isolating, she struggles to maintain the illusion of being in control. Covering her life from ages 6 to 19, this is a tough and painful portrayal of a life filled with mental illness. This book is haunting, thoughtful and memorable. Readers will never forget Fig’s journey.

It’s Kind of a Funny Story

By Ned Vizzini

Miramax, 2007

For age 15 and older

Overwhelmed and depressed, Craig seeks relief and is given medication, which helps. In fact, it helps so much that he decides he no longer needs it. And that is when things take a turn for the worse. Burdened by suicidal thoughts he can’t shake, Craig eventually is admitted to a psychiatric hospital.

Though he doesn’t think he’s as far gone as the others around him, the hospital staff gives Craig the support he desperately needs. During his recovery, he also experiments with art, which gives him an outlet and something positive to focus on when he leaves.

This story is tough, but full of hope and a message of self-acceptance. The book is based on the author’s real-life experiences in an adult psychiatric institute. Sadly, Vizzini died from suicide in 2013 after a lifelong struggle with severe clinical depression.

Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy

By Sonya Sones

HarperTeen, 2006

For age 13 and older

Told in verse, this story follows 13-year-old Cookie as her older sister is diagnosed with manic depression and an intense breakdown. Based on the author’s journal of her own similar experience, this story finds the fine line between Cookie’s desire to do normal teenage things, like crush on boys, go to parties and visit the mall, and her messed up home life. She feels selfish and alone.

On the author’s website, Sones says, “My sister and I are hopeful that the people who read Stop Pretending will come away from the experience feeling more compassion for the victims of mental illness.”

This story was originally published April 26, 2016 at 2:33 PM with the headline "Librarian’s picks: Books address mental health issues."