Mental Health Resources for Teens: Books
A resource guide for teens & their families.
Your Brain Needs a Hug by
Imbued with a sense of humor, understanding, and hope, Your Brain Needs a Hug is a judgment-free guide for living well with your mind. My Mad Fat Diary author Rae Earl offers her personalized advice on the A to Zs of mental health, social media, family and friendship. When she was a teenager, Rae dealt with OCD, anxiety, and an eating disorder, but she survived, and she thrived. Your Brain Needs a Hug is filled with her friendly advice, coping strategies and laugh-out-loud moments to get you through the difficult days. Witty, honest, and enlightening, this is the perfect read for feeling happier and healthier and learning to navigate life without feeling overwhelmed or isolated. An Imprint Book "A validating, hopeful, and practical guide to mental health... heartfelt and honest... Teens struggling with mental illness will find comfort and valuable information in this superlative guide." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Perceptive and accessible." --Publishers Weekly
Call Number: YA 155.5 EARISBN: 9781250307859Publication Date: 2019-08-13
The Resilient Teen by
"Well researched and up to date, including the acknowledgement of teens' struggles with the Covid-19 pandemic.... Belongs on every young adult's bookshelf." --Kirkus Reviews (starred) 10 powerful skills to help you manage stress, bounce back from difficult situations, and rewire your brain for happiness and success! Being a teen today is stressful. That's why you need real tools to help you cope with all of life's challenges--from small stressors like homework, social media, and dating to serious trauma resulting from bullying, school shootings, violence, and now--pandemics. The key to dealing with all of these difficult events is resilience--the ability to recover from setbacks or trauma, and forge ahead with emotional strength. The best thing about resilience is that it can be learned. This book will help you learn how to be resilient, so you can weather life's storms and reach your goals. In The Resilient Teen, psychologist, teen expert, and trauma specialist Sheela Raja offers ten skills grounded in key principles from psychology and neuroscience to help you manage difficult emotions, recover from difficult situations, and cultivate a sense of joy--even in the face of setbacks and modern-day stressors. You'll learn essential strategies for self-care, how to establish a healthy lifestyle, and how to set limits on technology. You'll also discover how mindfulness can help you deal with stress and challenging emotions in the moment, tips for building better relationships with family and friends, and tools for dealing with disappointment. Most importantly, this book will show you how to increase your own sense of joy, purpose, and meaning--even when things seem less than awesome.
Call Number: YA 155.518 RAJISBN: 9781684035786Publication Date: 2021-06-01
Your Life, Your Way by
The ultimate teen guide to handling all the pressures and challenges of life--your own way! Being a teen in today's world is tough. Between school pressure, family, friends, and extracurricular activities--sometimes it can feel like you're being pulled in a dozen different directions, and none of them are your way. On top of that, you may feel lonely, angry, or depressed; or you may wonder if you're good enough, smart enough, or attractive enough. So, how can you overcome these self-doubts, and cultivate the strength to face life's challenges and reach your full potential? In Your Life, Your Way, you'll learn how to deal with all the changes and challenges of the teen years--and how to grow into the person you want to be. You'll learn doable skills grounded in mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and positive psychology to help you form positive friendships, manage difficult emotions, and get unstuck from bad habits. You'll also learn real tips for dealing with several life challenges, including: Feelings of uncertainty Concerns about your looks Deadlines School/college/work Family Worries about the future Relationship stress Once you identify your own personal struggles, you can decide how you want to face them--as strong, assertive, kind, honorable, caring, fun, supportive, friendly, agreeable, bold, persistent, or giving. If you're ready to take charge of your destiny and face problems head on in your own way, this fun and illustrated book has everything you need to get started today!
Call Number: YA 305.235 CIAISBN: 9781684034659Publication Date: 2020-09-01
Here and Queer by
Here and Queer is a helpful, friendly guide full of support and advice about living your best queer life, written for girls. This vibrant, inclusive guide, designed for all kinds of girls, is designed to help you be the strongest, proudest, happiest version of yourself! A celebration of the gift of queerness, it's packed full of heartfelt advice, comforting stories, and stylish illustrations, and will give you the tools you need to explore your own identity, on your own terms. Author and YouTuber Rowan Ellis uses her personal experience to take you through queer life, from coming out and dealing with tough stuff, right through to finding friendships and celebrating Pride. There are also brilliant guest essays from contributors across the LGBTQ+ spectrum. The book opens with guidance on understanding how you feel as a queer girl. From choosing your pronouns to navigating different labels and identities, Ellis helps girls understand that they are in control of their own identity, and that it's ok to not be sure straight away. Moving onto a glossary of queer terms, Here and Queer helps introduce girls to the rainbow of definitions and terms which help queer people understand who they are and how they feel. The book then moves onto advice on coming out, for many one of the hardest steps to take on their journey to truly living their best lives. Following are chapters on sex and romance, including helpful advice about your first time, as well as guides on consent and knowing how to make sure you build a healthy and supportive relationship with your partner. There are also sections on dealing with bullies and stigma, finding your community, and looking after your mental health, including advice on how to help you find extra support if you need it. The book also has more information on queer ladies in history, and on the fight for equality undertaken by brave activists throughout history and today. Stylishly designed with cool illustrations, this helpful, friendly guide will help all queer girls navigate the challenges of discovering and embracing their identities and flourishing in their own skins!
Call Number: YA 306.766 ELLISBN: 9780711264755Publication Date: 2022-05-31
Where to Start by
A comforting and useful resource for anyone who's struggling emotionally and looking for help―from the nation's leading community-based nonprofit that addresses the needs of those living with mental illness It can be extremely hard to figure out what's going on in our own heads when we are suffering-when we feel alone and unworthy and can't stop our self-critical inner voice. And it's even more difficult to know where to go for answers. This book is a perfect first step. Here you'll find clear, honest, reassuring information about all the most common mental illnesses and what you can do to find help and to practice self-care. Where to Startfeatures- jargon-free informationabout all the most common mental illnesses, including a first self-assessment test; tips on how to get professional helpand how to talk about your mental health with friends and family; essential tools,including handy worksheets and DIY mental health content; and insightful, funny drawings by acclaimed cartoonist Gemma Correll.
Call Number: YA 362.3 MENISBN: 9780593531402Publication Date: 2023-04-11
(Don't) Call Me Crazy by
A Washington Post Best Children's Book of 2018 Who's Crazy? What does it mean to be crazy? Is using the word crazy offensive? What happens when a label like that gets attached to your everyday experiences? To understand mental health, we need to talk openly about it. Because there's no single definition of crazy, there's no single experience that embodies it, and the word itself means different things--wild? extreme? disturbed? passionate?--to different people. In (Don't) Call Me Crazy, thirty-three actors, athletes, writers, and artists offer essays, lists, comics, and illustrations that explore a wide range of topics: their personal experiences with mental illness, how we do and don't talk about mental health, help for better understanding how every person's brain is wired differently, and what, exactly, might make someone crazy. If you've ever struggled with your mental health, or know someone who has, come on in, turn the pages . . . and let's get talking. This award-winning anthology is from the highly-praised editor of Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World and Body Talk: 37 Voices Explore Our Radical Anatomy. .
Call Number: YA 616.89 DONISBN: 9781616207816Publication Date: 2018-10-02
How to Manage Your Eco-Anxiety by
How to Manage Your Eco-Anxiety is a timely book for teens that explores the relationship between mental health and the climate crisis . . . and supplies tools to help! How does climate change make you feel? Sad? Afraid? Powerless? Guilty? Manage your eco-anxiety with this helpful guide. Drawing on years of experience as a psychoanalyst, Anouchka Grose shares cutting-edge insights on how to manage your eco-anxiety. Find out how to validate your emotions and build your resilience. Discover the comfort that can be found in your community. Understand and face your eco-anxiety with ten accessible steps. A "tool kit" at the end of each step shows you ways to build on that knowledge and take action. You'll finish this book feeling equipped with solutions and practical advice to help you be kinder to the planet . . . and yourself. "An essential mental-health handbook for the next generation." --Vanessa Nakate, climate activist "An invaluable resource." --Tori Tsui, climate justice and mental health activist Featuring Color Illustrations by Lauriane Bohémier
Call Number: YA 152.46 GROISBN: 9781419771361Publication Date: 2024-03-12
The Beasts in Your Brain by
It can be hard to find the words to describe the icky feelings that seem to come from nowhere and sap all your joy and energy. You can tell that your brain just isn't pulling off the same tasks as others, and you're constantly bouncing between feeling nothing and feeling the weight of everything. It's hard enough to admit that you're struggling, but how do you even begin to navigate getting help when it feels like there's an enormous gap between you, your peers, and the adults in your life who keep saying they want to support you but just don't seem to get it? This is not your doctor's dry health pamphlet or a preachy self-care listicle. The Beasts in Your Brain is a guide and companion equally for you and your loved ones, here to provide that essential first dose of information, understanding, and validation about mental illness and how it affects the young people of today. This book knows how much harder things are for you and your generation, how out-of-touch much of the advice out there is (after all, how are you supposed to "just unplug" when more than half your social life is conducted online?), and how identity, circumstances, and stigma can affect your experiences. Though they might be scary or seem unstoppable, the beasts can be defeated. It will be hard work, but it is not work you will ever have to do alone. This book will be your first partner in your battle against the beasts, reminding you that there's always hope and humor to be found in openly talking about the realities of living with mental illness. Together with the support of your loved ones and the practical knowledge and tools you will learn in this book, you can win this fight.
Call Number: YA 152.46 SPEISBN: 9781728417202Publication Date: 2023-09-05
Teen Guide to Managing Stress and Anxiety by
Stress and anxiety are common mental health issues in teens. Teen Guide to Managing Stress and Anxiety explores the causes and effects of stress and anxiety on teens' lives. It provides practical, easy to follow strategies on managing these emotions, with personal accounts and advice from experts.
Call Number: YA 155.512 SHEISBN: 9781678200947Publication Date: 2021-08-01
Ignite Your Spark by
Forge your own path, engage your passions, and light thousands of sparks to become the person you want to be with this interactive guide filled with quizzes and activities to help you along the way. It's no secret that your teen years can be tumultuous, confusing, and even sucky, but that doesn't mean you can't light a fire in your life. Covering topics from relationships, self-image, and school to goals, failures, and willpower, Ignite Your Spark features thought-provoking quizzes, "Ignite Your Life" activities, and profiles of kids and adults alike who have ignited their own spark to accomplish extraordinary things. Your teen years don't have to be a struggle, and with this handbook for self-discovery and personal fulfillment, you will find that the ability to ignite your own spark has been within you all along.
Call Number: YA 155.519 WOOISBN: 9781582705651Publication Date: 2017-01-10
Smashing Stigma by
Stigma is everywhere around us. People may mistrust the unhoused or discriminate against those suffering from an addiction. They may change the way they interact with someone after witnessing a panic attack from anxiety or PTSD. Or they may judge others for their appearance and their weight. Stigma leads to harmful stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. It can keep people from seeking the help and support they need. They may internalize others' stigma and start to blame themselves for their condition or experiences. In some cases, the effects of stigma can even be life threatening. Even with so many examples, it can be difficult to identify stigma in real time and even harder to work against it. But learning about common types of stigma can help to reduce them. Author and registered nurse Connie Goldsmith covers six stigmatized conditions--poor mental health, addiction, homelessness, relationship abuse, PTSD, and above average weight--to help you understand what stigma looks like and how it affects real people. Discover how you can dismantle stigma and work to reduce stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. ou understand what stigma looks like and how it affects real people. Discover how you can dismantle stigma and work to reduce stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination.ou understand what stigma looks like and how it affects real people. Discover how you can dismantle stigma and work to reduce stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination.ou understand what stigma looks like and how it affects real people. Discover how you can dismantle stigma and work to reduce stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination.
Call Number: YA 305 GOLISBN: 9781728477398Publication Date: 2023-09-05
The Racial Trauma Handbook for Teens by
Break the cycle of racial trauma, build confidence, and thrive with this practical handbook just for teens. If you or someone in your family has experienced racism or racial trauma--such as discrimination or racial violence--you may feel like the experience has made you different from other teens. You may see the world as a scary or unjust place. And you may struggle with negative thoughts, sadness, anger, resentment, or shame. Over time, these negative thoughts and feelings can get in the way of school, friendships, and being your best. But there are ways you can move forward and start living the life you deserve. This handbook will help. The Racial Trauma Handbook for Teens presents evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) skills to help you overcome personal and intergenerational trauma, increase self-awareness, and build lasting confidence. You'll learn how trauma can change the way you see yourself, and how you can break this cycle by learning more about your culture or heritage. Most importantly, you'll find tools to help you balance your emotions, and put a stop to unwanted thoughts and memories associated with trauma, so you can find lasting peace of mind. Racial trauma doesn't need to define who you are. With this book as your guide, you can heal from the past, discover your own hidden strengths, and cultivate a sense of pride in your identity and your place in the world.
Call Number: YA 305.8 HILISBN: 9781648480126Publication Date: 2023-02-01
Empowered Black Girl by
Youth Empowerment for Black Teen Girls from Famous Black Women "It's time for us Black girls and Black women to be empowered, and I'm glad we have Fievre to show us the way."―Monique Jones, author of The Book of Awesome Black Americans #1 Best Seller in Teen & Young Adult Nonfiction on Prejudice Even strong, fearless, and badass Black teen girls and Black women need empowering words of affirmation. Now more than ever, we must give our minds and bodies the TLC they deserve because Black women empowerment begins with the youth empowerment of Black teen girls. Author of Badass Black Girl, M.J Fievre brings you inspirational words of wisdom through famous Black women who have changed the world, including Audre Lorde, Lupita Nyong'o and Angela Davis. Take a deep breath. We don't always have to be strong. It's essential for Black women and Black teen girls to understand that taking a break to focus on our mental health is bravery. We, too, need reminders and empowering words of affirmation that we are incredible and enough. Empowered Black Girl teaches you to: Master using daily words of affirmation Experience a life filled with love, Black joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction Take control of your destiny and direct your future Strengthen your self-esteem and youth empowerment If you enjoyed empowering books like Badass Black Girl, Badass Affirmations, Well-Read Black Girl, or Brave: A Teen Girl's Guide to Beating Worry and Anxiety, then you'll love Empowered Black Girl: Joyful Affirmations and Words of Resilience.
Call Number: YA 305.235 FIEISBN: 9781642505603Publication Date: 2021-01-19
Life Inside My Mind by
Your favorite YA authors including Ellen Hopkins, Maureen Johnson, and more recount their own experiences with mental illness in this raw, real, and powerful collection of essays that explores everything from ADD to PTSD. Have you ever felt like you just couldn't get out of bed? Not the occasional morning, but every day? Do you find yourself listening to a voice in your head that says "you're not good enough," "not good looking enough," "not thin enough," or "not smart enough"? Have you ever found yourself unable to do homework or pay attention in class unless everything is "just so" on your desk? Everyone has had days like that, but what if you have them every day? You're not alone. Millions of people are going through similar things. However issues around mental health still tend to be treated as something shrouded in shame or discussed in whispers. It's easier to have a broken bone--something tangible that can be "fixed"--than to have a mental illness, and easier to have a discussion about sex than it is to have one about mental health. Life Inside My Mind is an anthology of true-life events from writers of this generation, for this generation. These essays tackle everything from neurodiversity to addiction to OCD to PTSD and much more. The goals of this book range from providing home to those who are feeling alone, awareness to those who are witnessing a friend or family member struggle, and to open the floodgates to conversation. Participating writers include E.K. Anderson, J.L. Armentrout, Cyn Balog, Amber Benson, Francesca Lia Block, Jessica Burkhart, Crissa Chappell, Sarah Fine, Kelly Fiore, Candace Ganger, Meghan Kelley Hall, Cynthia Hand, Ellen Hopkins, Maureen Johnson, Tara Kelly, Karen Mahoney, Melissa Marr, Kim McCreight, Hannah Moskowitz, Scott Neumyer, Lauren Oliver, Aprilynne Pike, Tom Pollack, Amy Reed, Cindy Rodriquez, Francisco Stork, Wendy Tolliver, Rob Wells, Dan Wells, Rachel Wilson, and Sara Zarr.
Call Number: YA 362.2 BURISBN: 9781481494649Publication Date: 2018-04-10
I Have the Right To by
"A bold, new voice." --People "A nuanced addition to the #MeToo conversation." --Vice A young survivor tells her searing, visceral story of sexual assault, justice, and healing in this gutwrenching memoir. The numbers are staggering: nearly one in five girls ages fourteen to seventeen have been the victim of a sexual assault or attempted sexual assault. This is the true story of one of those girls. In 2014, Chessy Prout was a freshman at St. Paul's School, a prestigious boarding school in New Hampshire, when a senior boy sexually assaulted her as part of a ritualized game of conquest. Chessy bravely reported her assault to the police and testified against her attacker in court. Then, in the face of unexpected backlash from her once-trusted school community, she shed her anonymity to help other survivors find their voice. This memoir is more than an account of a horrific event. It takes a magnifying glass to the institutions that turn a blind eye to such behavior and a society that blames victims rather than perpetrators. Chessy's story offers real, powerful solutions to upend rape culture as we know it today. Prepare to be inspired by this remarkable young woman and her story of survival, advocacy, and hope in the face of unspeakable trauma.
Call Number: YA 362.883 PROISBN: 9781534414433Publication Date: 2018-03-06
Things We Haven't Said: sexual violence survivors speak out by
A powerful collection of poems, essays, letters, and interviews written by a diverse group of adults who survived sexual violence as children and adolescents. This anthology is a valuable resource to help teens upend stigma and create a better future.
Call Number: YA 362.883 THIISBN: 9781942186342Publication Date: 2018-01-01
Stuff That's Loud: a teen's guide to unspiraling when OCD gets noisy by
An OCD book just for you--full of powerful tools and engaging illustrations to help you live the life you want to live, instead of being controlled by OCD. Do you have thoughts that seem loud? Do your worries spiral out of control and then suck you in? Do intrusive thoughts show up and make you scared of doing certain things--or not doing things--a certain way? Do you ever get a feeling like something bad might happen? Does this loud stuff make you feel alone, or worse--crazy? First, you aren't alone--even if it sometimes feels that way. And second, you are not crazy. But you might be struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). And while OCD can be difficult, you don't have to let it have power over you. Instead, you can live a life full of meaning, great relationships and joy with the help of this book. In Stuff That's Loud, you'll learn exposure and response prevention (ERP), and ideas from acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to help you break free from loud, spiralling OCD thoughts and behaviors: You'll learn to be curious about the world around you You'll use willingness to step forward boldly Flexibility skills to practice everywhere, everywhen So that you can live a life you give a $#@! about Life doesn't have to stay stuck any longer!
Call Number: YA 616.852 SEDISBN: 9781684035366Publication Date: 2020-05-01
