Impact of Mental Health in Young Adult Literature – Written by Hannah Phillips

Themes of mental health struggles are becoming more common in young adult novels as of recently, and having these themes is incredibly important for these books to have. It seems that lots of young adults have struggles with their mental health, but it is uncommon for them to be talked about. Having these themes in the literature that these young adults read is important for them to be seen and represented.

    When I first started reading young adult books, they all seemed the same. They all had similar storylines, and they all seemed to avoid certain topics. As a nonbinary disabled person, I didn’t have any sort of representation in the books I was reading. Of course, that didn’t stop me from reading any book I could get my hands on, but I didn’t realize what I was missing. Once authors started incorporating mental health into their books, I started wanting more. And more. And more. 

    I saw myself in those books, I saw myself in those characters. I realized that what I was feeling was normal, and I wasn’t the only one in the world feeling that way. It changed my life for the better. I pushed myself more, I made new friends, I went to therapy. All because of one book with mental health representation. Imagine what could’ve happened if it became more common sooner.

    Everyday I go onto social media and see stories of people reading books and finding new aspects of themselves. For good or for bad, for better or for worse. I feel so good inside, knowing that authors put themselves into characters to help people find themselves. I hope that one day I can make an impact like that. 

Literature with Mental Health Representation:
Wash Day Diaries (Depression) by Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith
Before I Let Go (Depression) by Kennedy Ryan
White Smoke (Anxiety) by Tiffany D. Jackson
Ace of Spades (Anxiety) by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Tiny Pretty Things (Eating Disorder) by Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipotra
Last Summer (Anxiety, Depression) by Lily Grace
Every Last Word (Mental Disorders, Anxiety, Depression) by Tamara Ireland Stone

This blog post was written by Hannah Phillips.