Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 as a way to advocate for the millions of Americans living with mental health conditions. Every May and beyond, organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) work to educate the public, extend support, and reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. With one in five adults experiencing mental illness each year [NAMI], HCPL recognizes the importance mental health plays in our overall wellness. Read on to learn more about library resources that can help you find the information you need.
While the library can provide helpful resources and information, if you or a loved one need support or treatment or are experiencing a mental health crisis, please reach out to the experts at Henrico Mental Health and Developmental Services.
DATABASES
Visit the library’s databases to browse information on a variety of mental wellness topics:
- Gale’s Health & Wellness database provides access to carefully compiled medical references and periodical materials that users can trust.
- Through MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine provides information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues in everyday accessible language. Users can browse medical research, learn about different treatments, look up medical terms, view videos and illustrations, and find out about clinical trials.
- Teen Health & Wellness provides teens and their adults with research support and self-help on various wellness issues. Student-friendly articles make complex topics understandable, and teens can submit their own questions and content for a personalized experience.
In addition to these, the library provides resources for the older loved ones in your life who may be experiencing memory disorders. View our available Caregiver kits to help spark memories, conversation, and connection between you and a family member or friend experiencing Alzheimer’s or dementia.
COLLECTION
Explore our collection to find titles about mental health for kids, teens, and adults:
EASY (Picture Books)
- A Blue Kind of Day by Rachel Tomlinson
- Angry Me by Sandra V. Feder (also available on Hoopla)
- Dark Cloud by Anna Lozowski (also available on Hoopla)
- I Am Stuck by Julia Mills
- I Think I Think a Lot by Jessica Whipple (also available on Hoopla)
- One Wave at a Time: A Story About Grief and Healing by Holly Thompson (also available on Hoopla)
- Out of a Jar by Deborah Marcero (also available on Hoopla)
- Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival
- Too Many Bubbles: A Story About Mindfulness by Christine Peck (also available on Hoopla)
- Where is Bina Bear? by Mike Curato
CHILDREN
- Breathe with Me: Using Breath to Feel Strong, Calm, and Happy by Mariam Gates
- Dear Student by Elly Swartz
- The Golden Hour by Niki Smith
- Growing Feelings: A Kids’ Guide to Dealing with Emotions About Friends and Other Kids by Eileen Kennedy-Moore
- The Homework Squad’s ADHD Guide to School Success by Joshua Shifrin
- Iveliz Explains it All by Andrea Beatriz Arango
- Puzzled: A Memoir of Growing Up with OCD by Pan Cooke
- The Science of Being Angry by Nicole Melleby (also available on Hoopla)
- Smaller Sister by Maggie Edkins Willis
- Some Kind of Happiness by Claire Legrand
- Superpowered: Transform Anxiety into Courage, Confidence, and Resilience by Renee Jain and Dr. Shefali Tsabary
TEENS
- Ab(solutely) Normal: Short Stories That Smash Mental Health Stereotypes by Rocky Callen
- The Beasts in Your Brain: Understanding and Living with Anxiety and Depression by Katherine Speller (also available on Hoopla)
- Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman (also available on Hoopla)
- Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley
- In My Feelings: A Teen Guide to Discovering What You Feel So You Can Decide What to Do by Vidal Annan, Jr. (also available on Hoopla)
- The Self-Compassionate Teen: Mindfulness and Compassion Skills to Conquer Your Inner Voice by Karen Bluth (also available on Hoopla)
- Side Effects by Ted Anderson
- Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman (also available on Hoopla)
- Stuff That’s Loud by Ben Sedley (also available on Hoopla)
- We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride (also available on Hoopla)
- Where to Start: A Survival Guide to Anxiety, Depression, and Other Mental Health Challenges by Gemma Correll
Be sure to also check out our latest Overdrive collection for teens, You Are Not Alone: Mental Health in Teen Literature.
ADULTS
- Black People Breathe: A Mindfulness Guide to Racial Healing by Zee Clarke
- Healing: Our Path from Mental Illness to Mental Health by Thomas Insel, MD
- Inferno: A Memoir of Motherhood and Madness by Catherine Cho
- It’s OK That You’re Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn’t Understand by Megan Devine (also available on Hoopla)
- Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by Nedra Glover Tawwab
- Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek H. Murthy (also available on Hoopla)
- Travelers to Unimaginable Lands: Dementia and the Hidden Workings of the Mind by Dasha Kiper
- The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health: Navigate an Unequal System, Learn Tools for Emotional Wellness, and Get the Help You Deserve by Rheeda Walker (also available on Hoopla)
- Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind by Judson Brewer, MD, PhD
- What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Bruce D. Perry
- You Are Not Alone: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health with Advice from Experts and Wisdom from Real People and Families by Ken Duckworth