Mental Health Awareness Month

Dearest Bookworms,

As the school year dwindles down and those pesky exams loom closer take the time to prioritize yourself. Like any observation and awareness we post about, mental health is a year round priority. We hope you find some comfort and knowledge in these books, and know if you ever need anything the library is always here to help! 

Check out the programs the library is offering to support mental health and wellness: https://discover.bklynlibrary.org/?event=true&search=mental+health

1. Lavender clouds : comics about neurodivergence and mental health by Bex Ollerton In Lavender Clouds, Bex Ollerton translates her experiences with Autism, ADHD, and mental health into a series of colorful, emotionally resonant comics that tell stories of neurodiversity and resilience. With a tone that is sharp but always sensitive, this debut book collection describes the many insights and strategies the author has learned on her journey to self-acceptance. Among the many topics addressed in the book are the folly of "foolproof" organization strategies, the perils of burnout, the joy of small hopes, and the importance of growing at your own pace and on your own path Breathtaking in its artistic range and emotional truth, Lavender Clouds offers an enlightening and uplifting read for anyone struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, burnout, or other issues related to mental health.
2. Reach out : tips for helping someone in crisis by Jill C Wheeler Discusses expert advice for helping people who are experiencing a mental health crisis. It explores the kinds of crisis that might prompt this along with the smartest and safest ways to help those in need
3. When it all syncs up by Maya Ameyaw A Black teen dancer with dreams of landing a spot in a prestigious ballet company must learn to dance on her own terms in this explosive debut about the healing power of art and friendship, perfect for fans of Heartbreaker and Tiny Pretty Things. Ballet is Aisha's life. So when she's denied yet another lead at her elite academy because she doesn't "look" the part, she knows something has to change-the constant discrimination is harming her mental health. Switching to her best friend Neil's art school seems like the perfect plan at first. But she soon discovers racism and bullying are entrenched in the ballet program here, too, and there's a new, troubling distance between her and Neil. And as past traumas surface, pressure from friends and family, a new romance, and questions about her dance career threaten to overwhelm her. There's no choreography to follow-for high school or for healing. Aisha will have to find the strength within herself-and place her trust in others-to make her next move
4. Ab(solutely) normal : short stories that smash mental health stereotypes Channeling their own experiences, sixteen exceptional authors subvert mental health stereotypes in a powerful and uplifting collection of fiction. A teen activist wrestles with protest-related anxiety and PTSD. A socially anxious vampire learns he has to save his town by (gulp) working with people. As part of her teshuvah, a girl writes letters to the ex-boyfriend she still loves, revealing that her struggle with angry outbursts is related to PMDD. A boy sheds uncontrollable tears but finds that in doing so he's helping to enable another's healing. In this inspiring, unflinching, and hope-filled mixed-genre collection, sixteen diverse and notable authors draw on their own lived experiences with mental health conditions to create stunning works of fiction that will uplift and empower you, break your heart and stitch it back together stronger than before. Through powerful prose, verse, and graphics, the characters in this anthology defy stereotypes as they remind readers that living with a mental health condition doesn't mean that you're defined by it. Each story is followed by a note from its author to the reader, and comprehensive back matter includes bios for the contributors as well as a collection of relevant resources. With contributions by: Mercedes Acosta * Karen Jialu Bao * James Bird * Rocky Callen * Nora Shalaway Carpenter * Alechia Dow * Patrick Downes * Anna Drury * Nikki Grimes * Val Howlett * Jonathan Lenore Kastin * Sonia Patel * Marcella Pixley * Isabel Quintero * Ebony Stewart * Francisco X. Stork
5. All alone with you by Amelia Diane Coombs To boost her college applications, seventeen-year-old Eloise, a loner girl struggling with her mental health, volunteers at a senior suppor center where she meets a dynamic elderly woman and a perpetually cheerful boy who challenge her to step out of her comfortzone.

Happy Reading,

Sincerly Your Friendly Neighborhood Librarian,

Katrina