Today is a day that is, honestly, closer to my heart than most people would think.
The 10th October is World Mental Health Day.
Me, many of my family members- and friends of mine and their family members- are affected by mental health. Some indirectly, like me and some of my friends, who have family members working in mental health. But others a lot more directly than that.
I have witnessed many panic attacks- none, thankfully, on my part- and tried to help those of my friends who suffer from anxiety, depression and a number of other issues in their lives to do with mental health. That is just part of being a good friend.
But, this being a book blog, what I really want to talk about on this very important day is mental health in books.
The first thing I'll say is that mental health doesn't really play as big a part as I think it should. I feel that mental health should have a bigger representation in teen books, especially considering how many teens experience issues with mental health.
If you'd like to read more statistics on disorders in teenagers, head to this link.
I also feel like where there are mental health issues being represented in teen books, there isn't enough scope or enough variety in these issues. There are some issues that are included and some which I've simply never seen in a teen book.
It is important for teens suffering with mental health issues to feel as if they are not alone and there are others like them, and books are an excellent way of doing that that simply isn't being utilised by authors.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments!
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