11 books on improving and helping your mental health

This Book will change your mind about Mental Health by Nathan Filer

This book covers the history of schizophrenia as a diagnosis and the stigma that has and still does surround it. The author gets to the heart of the matter by giving us real life cases of individuals living with schizophrenia in a way that gives voice to their own experiences and individual humanity .This book is a challenging and at times a heart-breaking read but above all, it’s a book that needs to be read about a subject that we’d all be better for understanding.

Overcoming low self-esteem by Melanie Fennell

This book, highly recommended by the Reading Agency, is all about recognition and balance in your life. Recognising the nature of low self-esteem and the cycle of negative thinking. The right balance and perspective, this book aims to illustrate, can be achieved through the application of Cognitive Behavioural Techniques (CBT).

Overcoming stress by Lee Brosan and Gillian Todd

As human beings we all need a certain amount of stress in our lives to remain healthy. However, very often we have an imbalance, with far too much stress than we need. Learning to recognise, understand and cope with stress is a great way to free ourselves from some of life’s everyday pressures, and enjoy life for what it is.

How to beat worry and stress by Dr David Delvin

The right amount of stress can be a good thing. Some worrying thoughts can actually be part of our inbuilt early warning system that keeps us safe. But how much stress is too how? When does worry become self-limiting and counter-productive? Learning to deal with stress and worry is at the heart of this thoughtful and instructive book.

How to beat your fears & worries by Helen Kennerley

We all have fears, worries and anxieties but perhaps the biggest difference to our lives as individuals is how we deal with them. This book aims to make it easier for you to talk about your fears, deal with and ultimately manage them. Coping skills feature heavily in this title which is packed with practical advice and illustrated with case studies.

The little book of the Autism Spectrum by Dr Samantha Todd

This book will allow anyone who lives or works with children with Autism to see the world through their eyes, and to develop their understanding and communication accordingly. By using evidence-based support to create workable strategies, many of the frustrations and misunderstanding that often arise can be recognised and overcome.

A mindfulness guide for the frazzled by Ruby Wax

Ruby Wax is on a mission to make us happier and healthier! Marrying theory with good, clear practical exercises, this number one bestseller is a guide to mindfulness that’s both easy to understand and funny. So, what are you waiting for?

Boost your confidence by Melanie Fennell

Having low self-confidence can limit and constrain you in so many ways, often sapping our energy and love for life. This book can help identify and turnaround low self-esteem, assisting you in breaking out of that negative cycle. With a strong emphasis on compassion, the author uses Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) to help you break free.

Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life’s Most Important Skill by Matthieu Ricard

Now for something a little bit different … Matthieu Ricard is a Buddist monk who feels that  happiness is not just an emotion, but a skill that can be developed. If you are looking for something out of the ordinary, with a different perspective on things, this might just be the book for you.

The Pocket Life Coach by Pete Chapman

Advice is often easier to take when it comes from someone who has experienced life’s knocks and bounced back. Pete Chapman did just that and so can speak with experience and from the heart. Covering such topics as wellbeing, goal setting, activity planning and developing a healthy mind, this workbook uses structured practical advice to help you to help yourself.

Beating Depression: Inspirational stories of hope and recovery by Paul Gilbert

We all need inspiration and focus during this challenging time and this book breathes reassurance and hope. As well as chapters covering what depression is and how to deal with and overcome it, the bulk of this book provides first person accounts of coming through dark moments and out at the other side. Something which we all hope to be doing very soon!

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