ONLY 7? –

May 17, 2022 – …but in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I talked to a range of mental health advocates about the books they felt accurately, and empathetically, built characters who navigated mental health struggles. From social workers to introverted artists, each recommended a book and character that made them feel seen, which is one of the best gifts an author can give their reader.  

The Mothers by Brit Bennett

“Brit Bennett does a great job of displaying how grief can manifest in behaviors when it is not addressed or processed. I personally identified with Robert Turner, the widower, because I too turned to volunteering obsessively at my church when my mother first passed away — suppressing my emotions and distracting myself from my loss. Ultimately, this behavior wasn’t the best action of choice; it helped me in the short-term, but not in the long run as it delayed my healing journey.” —Oludara Adeeyo, psychiatric social worker and author of “Self-Care for Black Women“

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

“She’s not a fictional character, but Cheryl Strayed, author of ‘Wild’, really made me feel seen in writing so candidly about her relationship with herself and her struggles with addiction and mental illness. I loved her book yet often felt deeply uncomfortable reading it — while I haven’t been through many of the struggles she has, her raw vulnerability made me feel like I was looking in a mirror.” —Tori Press, artist and author of “I Am Definitely, Probably, Enough (I Think)”

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