NHS England, Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2023/24, published 27 November 2025.
World Mental Health Day 2026 that is marked on 10 October has the theme...
“Lived experiences heard - real voices, real change.”
Some of the authors in this collection have spent years keeping their difficulties private.
- Dan Dale writes about hiding his condition because of stigma.[Text Wrapping Break]- Joe Black describes his struggle with the effects of childhood abuse.
Reading their stories does not mean your experience has to match theirs. You might recognise one feeling or understand something you had not considered before. That's why this Mental Health Awareness Day, we chose 10 of our most-recommended books about mental health and wellbeing.
A Quick Guide to the Books
You can always start by choosing the topic you would like to read about the most. This table also separates stories and personal experiences from books that offer other activities.
|
What you would like to read |
Suggested book |
|
Poems about living with mental health difficulties |
Mental Health Matters – Volume 2 |
|
A personal experience of keeping a mental health condition hidden |
Bipolar |
|
Journal activities that the author created during her recovery |
I am Enough |
|
Childhood abuse and life with complex PTSD |
Where Do You Go When You Need to Hide Away? |
|
Attachment and relationships within families |
What Helps When Children and Families Struggle |
|
The author’s ideas about immunity and children’s development |
SIPS |
|
Living with M.E/chronic fatigue syndrome and drawing on Christian faith |
The Importance of Rest |
|
An illustrated children’s story about self-worth |
The Girl and the Mirror |
|
A story about young people’s mental health |
Not All Superheroes Wear Capes |
|
Some poetry addressing domestic violence |
Poetry for the Hungry |
10 Books for this World Mental Health Day 2026
Some of these authors spent years keeping their mental health struggles private. We’ve brought their stories for you to read and share with someone you care about.
1. Mental Health Matters – Volume 2 by Natalie Ann Hughes
Natalie Ann Hughes started doing poetry when she was struggling with her mental health. Her poems describe the days she spent simply getting through life...as well as moments of happiness. She shares the feelings she struggled with and how she found hope when things started to improve.
Dan Dale spent years trying to escape the memories of a traumatic childhood. He also kept his mental health condition private because of the stigma around it. In Bipolar, he speaks about the daily struggles he had kept hidden and how they affect the way he lives his life.
3. I am Enough by Chaide Taylor
After years of poor mental health and hospital visits, Chaide Taylor started creating a journal to support her recovery. Readers can work through different exercises and set personal goals...with space for doodling too. The activities grew out of things that helped Chaide rebuild her sense of identity.
4. Where Do You Go When You Need to Hide Away? by Joe Black
Joe Black appeared to be coping but childhood abuse had an effect on his relationships and working life. The Breakdowns he had in his forties and fifties led him to confront his past. He writes about living with complex post-traumatic stress disorder and what he learned through years of therapy.
5. What Helps When Children and Families Struggle by John Stewart, Ph.D.
This guide talks about attachments through the bonds children form within their families. It looks at the ways to strengthen those connections and what families can do when relationships become strained. It is written for families as well as clinicians,..the book also presents family therapy as a way of handling difficulties together.
6. SIPS by Kevin Rigley
Kevin Rigley in his book SIPS discusses the relation between immunity and the nervous system. He considers what these might mean for children’s learning about emotional development. The book argues for changes to the environments that our children grow up in to better support their mental health and learning.
7. The Importance of Rest by Natalie Moore
Natalie Moore was diagnosed with M.E./chronic fatigue syndrome at 21. She describes the difficulties of living with the condition and her long search for recovery. During the hardest parts of her life...Christian faith became an important part of all her experience.
8. The Girl and the Mirror by Thomasina Farrell
This illustrated children’s story addresses the feeling of being unhappy with yourself. Thomasina Farrell writes about self-worth and accepting help...while the illustrations are by Malcolm Richards. The story encourages readers to accept that they can ask for support when they are struggling.
9. Not All Superheroes Wear Capes by Charlie Brown
George and his family are learning about the mental health difficulties young people can face. Their search takes George on an adventure that was pretty unexpected. The story considers those experiences through a young person’s life and looks at what they can mean for the rest of the family.
10. Poetry for the Hungry by Denise Le'Anne
Denise Le’Anne’s poems talk about domestic violence and mental health problems. She writes about the pain of those experiences and the effort it takes to rebuild your confidence after all that trauma.
Speaking openly after being silenced is an important part of the collection.
Reading and Writing Activities for World Mental Health Day
Now that we’ve looked at the books...Let’s talk about a few activities you can try after reading. You could use a passage to start a conversation or write down what it meant to you.
Use a Passage to Start the Conversation
You might relate to a part of the story because it describes something you have been going through. You don’t have to explain that to anyone, but you may want someone close to you to understand.
You could show them those lines and say, “This is close to how I’ve been feeling.”
Before talking about your mental health...NHS suggests thinking about what you want to say and choosing someone you trust. The part you’ve picked can be enough to begin with. You don’t have to explain your whole experience in one conversation.
— NHS England (Mental Health and Well-Being)
A passage from a book can give you somewhere to begin:
Choose the part that feels familiar.
Ask for time to discuss it.
Explain what you recognise.
Say what you need.
The book gives you a starting point. Your own words still matter, even if they come slowly.
When You Are the Person Listening
Someone close to you might show you a passage because it describes how they have been feeling. Before offering advice...Ask them what they can relate to.
You could say, “Would you like to tell me which part feels like your own experience?”
The NHS recommends making time to listen without pushing someone to share more than they are comfortable with. Let them explain in their own words rather than trying to guess what they mean.
— NHS England (Helping Others With Mental Health Problems)
When they start talking:
Let them finish before you respond.
Check that you have understood.
Ask what support they would like.
Reading With a Child? Begin With the Character
After reading The Girl and the Mirror or Not All Superheroes Wear Capes with your child...You might want to talk about the things that are mentioned in the story. Start with...What the character is going through rather than asking your child to explain their own feelings.
You could ask, “What would you say to this character if you were their friend?”
If your child starts talking about something that happened to them give them time to explain. YoungMinds advises giving children your full attention and checking that you have understood, rather than immediately trying to solve the problem.
— YoungMinds (How to Really Listen to Your Child)
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Read the book yourself before sharing it.
Ask one question about the story.
Give your child time to answer.
Let them correct anything you have misunderstood.
Not Ready to Talk? You Can Write Privately
You might read a poem and realise it describes something you have been keeping to yourself. You may not feel ready to discuss it but you could write down what felt familiar without planning to show anyone.
Start with a sentence such as, “This part reminded me of…”
NHS suggests writing down a few thoughts before starting to talk about your mental health. These notes can give you somewhere to start if you decide to speak to someone later. You do not need to explain everything in that conversation.
— NHS England (How to Talk About Your Mental Health)
To try this after reading:
Choose a part you relate to.
Write down what it reminds you of.
Note anything you would like help with.
Choose a Book You Would Like to Spend Time With
On World Mental Health Day 2026...Start with the subject that caught your attention rather than the title you think you ought to read. You may want to understand why Dan Dale kept his mental condition private. You can keep this reading session private or share a passage with someone you trust.
Mental health awareness should not put anyone under pressure to tell their story.
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