It’s hard to completely understand mental illness without experiencing it first hand. The joy of reading is that we have the ability to put ourselves into someone else’s head in a way that we never could otherwise.
When books highlight characters experiencing mental illness it helps us to understand and relate to mental illness in a new way. Here are three young adult books highlighting a character experiencing mental illness.
Aza Holmes from Turtles All the Way Down
In this book by John Green, Aza struggles with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder as she goes on an adventure to help her friend investigate the disappearance of his father.
The story focuses around Aza’s experience with OCD. She is unable to stop her thoughts from spiralling around the thoughts of how many germs are in her body and the possible risks.
The International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation describes Aza’s struggle in their description of OCD. OCD involves a person experiencing obsessions—intrusive thoughts that trigger distressing feelings—and compulsions—the actions and behaviors engaged in to decrease the obsession.
T. Lillian Decker from When Elephants Fly
Written by Nancy Richardson Fischer, Lillian’s struggle with mental health stems from knowing that because of her family history she is at an increased risk to develop schizophrenia. Knowing that 18 to 30 is the most common age to develop schizophrenia, as Lillian approaches her 18th birthday she plans out the next twelve years of her life in order to avoid all stress and he possibility of developing schizophrenia.
While caught between the struggle to prevent her on-coming illness and her desire to live a full life, Lillian finds herself fighting for a baby elephant in a struggle that mirrors the fight for her own life.
Schizophrenia affects the way a person understands the world and their perception of reality, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association. It includes symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, social withdrawal and disturbed thinking. In When Elephants Fly Lillian learns to come to terms with her encroaching illness and the symptoms which follow.
Craig Gilner from It’s Kind of a Funny Story
Based partly off the real life of author Ned Vizzini, the character of Craig suffers from depression. After experiencing suicidal thoughts Craig checks himself into a hospital for psychiatric care. During his time in the hospital Craig finds a new perspective on his priorities to improve his mental health.
One of the strengths of It’s Kind of a Funny Story is the very real emotions expressed by Craig. Ned Vizzini focuses not only on the emotional trials of depression but also describes the very real and very intense physical side effects of depression.
The physical side effects of depression are real and debilitating. According to the Mayo Clinic, side effects of depression include either insomnia or sleeping too much, lack of energy, reduced appetite and unexplained aches and pains. Craig’s journey demonstrates all aspects of depression and the on-going struggle that occurs throughout treatment.