15 books to read to understand mental health issues

Cover detail of A Kind of Mirraculas Paradise by Sandy Allen. Image: Scribner

A Kind of Mirraculus Paradise: A True Story About Schizophrenia – Sandy Allen

Sandy Allen shares the true story of their uncle Bob dealing with schizophrenia in A Kind of  Mirraculas Paradise. They did not know much about Bob while growing up, but they knew him as their “crazy uncle”.  But in 2009, Allen found out more than they ever dreamed of when their uncle mailed her his autobiography asking them to get it into the public’s hands. In this book, the story of Bob is told. Even bigger than that, some tough questions about the mental health hospital protocol in America are brought up.

Cover to The Kevin Show by Mary Pilon. Image: Bloomsbury USA

The Kevin Show: An Olympic Athlete’s Battle With Mental Illness – Mary Pilon

Mary Pilon has crafted a beautiful story of the tragedy of mental illness that follows the story of Olympic sailor Kevin Hall and his struggle with mental illness in The Kevin Show. Throughout his struggle, Kevin has been hospitalized, arrested, and even tried to drive his car into Boston Harbor. The book consists of the story told through medical records, Hall’s personal accounts, and interviews to help the reader fully understand the details of this mental illness case.

Cover to The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. Image: HarperPerennial.

The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath

The Bell Jar is a must-read for any high school student to get an introduction to the horrors of mental illness. The story follows a young woman, Esther, and her spiral downward. Throughout the novel, Esther’s psyche becomes darker and darker, and her illness becomes more real for the readers. It will definitely help the reader understand just how easy an illness can get deeper without the proper self-care.