Tag: Mental Health Awareness

Categories
Non Fiction Self help

The Book of Hope, Jonny Benjamin & Britt Pflüger

TW: Some people may find some of the themes discussed in this book upsetting.

The Book of Hope shares the stories of 101 individuals, including the likes of Dame Kelly Holmes, Joe Tracini and Martin Seager. All the stories have one thing in common: hope.

The contributors to this book vary from athletes, to psychologists, to actors and musicians. Some are very famous, others not so much, but the value of each story is limitless.

The Book of Hope is broken down into the following chapters Always Hope, Acceptance, Peace, Tool Kit, Compassion, Courage, The Right Words, Inspiration, Resilience, Kindness and Connection. This is really helpful as if you need something specific you can easily jump in and out.

Within each chapter you will find a number of stories. Some of the themes which appear in the contributor’s stories include, but are not limited to, mental health illnesses, loss, homophobia, racism, suicide, violence and sexual assault. Each individual tells us of the dark places they have been to. The stories are very raw (hence the trigger warning) however they also tell us how through these adversities they found hope, which in turn can provide hope for those struggling.

There are three important things I took away from this book. 1. You really are not alone. By just reading this book you will realise that there are at least 101 other people who have been to the dark side of life. 2. Even famous people struggle. In a world infatuated by the mass media and Instagram, not everyone’s lives are as they seem. 3. Nothing lasts forever and hope is the most important thing. I wish I had this book as a teen and even more so wish I was able to gift this book to my sister before she gave in to her demons.

Overall, this is just another example of how Jonny Benjamin continues to break the stigma around mental health, and I would like to thank all the contributors, including Jonny and Britt themselves, for being open and honest, and for trying to do just that. We all need a little hope from time to time, so I would recommend all to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan who kindly gave me the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Categories
Fantasy Fiction

The Midnight Library, Matt Haig

Trigger Warning: Suicide

Nora Seed feels trapped in her life, she views herself as a failure, and has many regrets. Regrets about giving up swimming, regrets about old break ups, regrets about not moving to Australia…The list goes on! What if she had only made the opposite decision, perhaps her life could have been completely different!

One night Nora finds herself tempted by suicidal thoughts. It is at this point that she finds herself in a library. However, this is not just any library. This is the library between life and death, full of infinite shelfs with infinite books. Each book providing a chance to see and live a life, where Nora made different decisions.

After seeing how her life could have panned out had she made different choices, does Nora still regret her decisions? Or does she realise that she is already living a fulfilled life.

The Midnight Library is a fantasy/sci-fi novel which carries philosophical teachings. Touching upon themes such as suicide, regret, mental health and living in the present.  I never thought fantasy was for me, however The Midnight Library has shown me otherwise. A lot of the quotes and philosophy behind this novel will stick with me for a long time.

Having enjoyed Matt Haig’s other books, I was really excited for this book to come out. However, I never rushed to read it. Why? Probably because I enjoy knowing I still have a book on my ‘to read’ list, which I can almost guarantee I can enjoy. I finally got a copy for Christmas and sadly just three days later I lost my sister to suicide. For anyone who has experienced suicide, you may know how no matter what you did or how much you tried to help, it does not stop you from tormenting yourself with the ‘what ifs’. It was at that point I was glad I had not rushed to read this book and it could not have come to me at a better time.

Overall a deeply meaningful, comforting and thought-provoking read. 5 stars.

Categories
Fiction

At First Sight, Hannah Sunderland

Trigger Warning: suicide, bereavement, mental health illnesses.

Nell is a telephone operator at a mental health charity. One lunch time chance leads Nell to meet Charlie in a cafe. They both feel a spark but regrettably don’t exchange numbers. After leaving the cafe and heading back to work Nell does a u-turn, as she rushes back to the cafe in hope that Charlie is still there. When she realises he is not,  she accepts she will not see him again.

Fate has a funny way of bringing people together and that is exactly what happens to Nell and Charlie when the next day Nell’s work phone rings and Charlie is at the other end of the line. He needs Nell’s help.

At First Sight is beautifully written and heartwarming but is like no other romance story I have ever read as it delves into some of life’s darkest moments as it centres around themes such as suicide, mental health, depression, grief and finding love after bereavement.

Having been recently bereaved by suicide myself, I thought that the book was written in the most sensitive way, with an aim to break surrounding stigmas and raise awareness, and you can tell that Hannah Sunderland had researched the themes very thoroughly.

The pace of the book felt right and I felt fully invested in all the characters. Whilst, as a reader you want Nell and Charlie to live happily ever after, I really appreciated that the author didn’t include romantic cliches. I found this emphasised the difficulties those who have been bereaved, and those who support them, face and that these things are never a straight line.

Overall, a really emotionally rewarding book, which is very different from anything I have read before.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Categories
Non Fiction Self help

Feel Better, No Matter What, Michael James

We’ve all read self-help books and they all tell us to eat healthy, exercise more and perhaps even to practice gratitude or meditate… right?

So you may be thinking oh no not another self-help book. However, this is much more than your average self-help book. Feel Better, No What holds all the secrets you need to change your mindset. It doesn’t just tell you to do certain practices, it teaches you how to do them!

In this book, Michael James guides us through a 4 week course. He teaches us how to do many techniques, which you may or may not have heard of before, explaining how we can fit these practices into everyday lives.

I didn’t actually do the course, which is why I would give this book 4/5 stars. If I were to follow through and saw an improvement in my life then I would have given it 5 stars. Nevertheless I found this book very helpful and am keen to keep referring to it to put some of the advice into practice.

Overall, a breath of fresh air. A self-help book which is relatable, understandable and practical.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Categories
Fiction

The Shock of the Fall, Nathan Filer

Whilst on holiday with their parents, Matthew Homes and his brother, Simon, sneak out in the middle of the night. However, only Matthew returns safely. Fast forward ten years and Matthew is in a mental institution. He feels guilty for his brother’s death and is living with Schizophrenia, frequently hearing and seeing visions of Simon.

What really intrigued me is that Schizophrenia is often a mental health illness, people are afraid to touch in comparison to more common illnesses, such as Depression. However, I thought Nathan Filer, portrayed the illness very well and realistically. As a result, it was no surprise that after finishing ‘The Shock of the Fall’, I discovered he has experiences of working as a Mental Health Nurse.

If I am honest, when I first began reading this book I wasn’t so sure at first. It took me a while to get into it. However, this is part of Matthew’s characterisation. He is not the most reliable storyteller and the switching between different periods of time reflects his thinking patterns. Whilst this can be hard to follow, it is worth it and really helps you to immerse yourself within the character.

Overall, whilst a difficult read, this book shares Matthew’s journey with you in the most honest way, whilst touching upon themes of grief, guilt, trauma and mental illness.

Categories
Non Fiction Self help

My Therapist Says… Advice You Should Probably (Not) Follow

I have to admit, I never did follow the @MyTherapistSays Instagram account before reading this book. I was just drawn in due to personal experiences with therapy, therefore I did not really know what to expect.

This book covers all types of life advice from relationship’s, to jobs, to self-care, and is brutally honest about life and the daily anxieties some of us face. It switches between the perspective of the writer and the opinions of her therapist. Some of the things which are mentioned in the book, I found a bit cringe and some of the things I assume people may see as common sense, but I thought it was very light hearted and a reminder that we all face the same struggles.

I really liked the graphics and the quotes throughout the book. Although, I have to say the mint green writing required me to strain my eyes (and that’s with glasses on!) but I am sure that would be fine in print format.

Overall I think this book was aimed at a younger audience than myself. I wasn’t overly keen on the whole book (I may have skipped the Astrology section). However, the open nature of this book and the honesty the anecdotes are told with, I believe will really help to destigmatise mental health and hopefully lead to people having more open conversations. Overall, a book all teenagers should read, especially when feeling like you’re on your own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group Rock Point for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.