Mental health awareness month: how to cope in the age of anxiety  Premium

A list of books on mental health

People have become increasingly conscious of their physical well-being but mental health matters remain ignored. Even though the subject is often flagged, open discussions are still a largely uncharted territory. One way to fight the taboo is to perhaps read up more because awareness and information are the key to learning, understanding and accepting the nuances of mental health management.

The good thing is that there are research-based books available on mental health that can be a useful way to process one’s own experiences, learn about psychology, and find techniques that could help in day-to-day life. Besides, there are several books by authors who have faced hurdles in dealing with the issue and reading about their experiences, recollections and descriptions can be a cathartic experience.

The concept of mental health is supposed to have first appeared in English in 1843, in a book titled Mental Hygiene. The origin of mental hygiene awareness is, however, attributed to American author Clifford Whittingham Beers, who published his autobiography A Mind That Found Itself in 1908, based on his personal experience of admissions to three mental hospitals. The book had repercussions as the concern purportedly shifted from the improvement of the care of people with mental disorders to humanising the care of the mentally ill — to eradicate the abuses, brutalities and neglect from which they traditionally suffered.

The issue, however, continues to be a major concern of people interested in the promotion of mental health around the world in present times as well. Johann Hari, on the basis of scientific evidence, speaks of nine societal and environmental causes that lead to depression and anxiety in Lost Connections (2018). Inequality, political and economic instability, poverty, abuse, job loss, lack of meaning, according to him, are big reasons for mental health issues and come in the way of getting care.

In 2020, psychologist Kimberley Wilson put together a science-based compilation with the brain at the centre of health conversations. For How to Build a Healthy Brain, she extensively drew from research and offered practical and holistic advice on protecting brain health by making simple lifestyle choices and how sleep, nutrition, exercise and meditation are an absolutely critical part of everybody’s wellness journey.

The author believes the way we think about mental health — as separate from physical health — is flawed and demystifies theories to put forth a comprehensive approach to balance body and mind care. 

There are several non-fiction books about mental health by Indian authors that give a glimpse into the lives of those affected and how they confronted fears to take control of situations. These books are a great place to start. In Beyond the Blue: Love, Life and Autism, Gopika Kapoor talks about her experiences when her child was diagnosed with the condition at age 3.