Oct. 10 is World Mental Health Day, a time to raise awareness of mental health issues and to mobilize efforts in support of mental wellness. Explore these Recommended Reads for resources that foster understanding, encourage self-care and work to break the stigma surrounding mental illness.
What to Do When the News Scares You: A Kid's Guide to Understanding Current Events by Jacqueline B. Toner
Junior: Helps children understand and manage anxiety caused by scary news stories—whether from TV, social media or adult conversations—by putting events into context and offering practical coping tools.
Finding Normal by Stephanie Faris
Junior: After a devastating flood displaces her family, sixth grader Temple Baxter confronts the realities of climate disaster and community loss. As she plans a fundraising concert to help flood victims, Temple learns powerful lessons about resilience, teamwork and the real impact of climate-driven change.
The Probability of Everything
Junior: Eleven-year-old Kemi, who finds comfort in scientific facts, faces overwhelming anxiety when an asteroid threatens Earth in just four days. As her world unravels and uncertainty grows, Kemi struggles to make sense of loss, isolation and the painful reality of saying goodbye.
Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow
Junior: Twelve-year-old Simon and his family move to a remote town to escape the trauma of an active shooter incident and the relentless media attention that followed. Struggling with PTSD, Simon seeks a fresh start to reclaim his identity with the support of new friends, a puppy and a giant radio telescope.
Just What to Do by Kyle Lukoff
Junior: This book helps with anxiety by showing that coping with loss—and the big feelings it brings—is different for everyone, and it’s okay not to have all the answers.
I Lost A Day by Briana Corr Scott
Junior: Children of diverse ages and backgrounds experience a range of emotions, from anger to depression to anxiety, "losing a day" to negative thoughts and feelings. Readers and parents will learn about creative responses to the most common mental health challenges for young people.
Where to Start: A Survival Guide to Anxiety, Depression, and Other Mental Health Challenges by Gemma Correll
Teen: A comforting and useful resource for anyone who's struggling emotionally and looking for help. It can be extremely hard to figure out what's going on in our own heads, and it's even more difficult to know where to go for answers. Here you'll find clear, honest and reassuring information on what you can do to find help and to practice self-care.
The 21st Century Brain: How Our Brains Are Changing in Response to the Challenges of Social Networks, AI, Climate Change, and Stress by Richard Restak
Adult: Discusses the influences of AI, social media and climate change as potent stressors on the contemporary brain, as well as available preventive measures to mitigate some of these factors.
Surviving Climate Anxiety: A Guide to Coping, Healing, and Thriving by Thomas Doherty
Adult: With climate disasters mounting and solutions feeling ever more elusive, eco-anxiety is rapidly becoming one of the biggest mental health threats of our time. This is a guide to coping with the psychological impacts of a persistent environmental crisis.
