Celebrate Mental Health Month with One of These Though-Provoking Books

October is Mental Health Month! What better time could there be to treat yourself or a loved one to a new book that work towards raising awareness about mental health issues, reducing stigma, and promoting the importance of mental well-being?! We’ve handpicked 12 must-read books to get you started.

Ten Things I Wish You Knew About Your Child Mental Health, Dr Billy Garvey

Every parent wants their child to have good mental health, and leading developmental paediatrician and host of the ‘Pop Culture Parenting’ podcast Dr Billy Garvey is here to help.

Children of all ages are grappling with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and behavioural issues ,and it can take years to see an expert who can help them.

Dr Billy Garvey is a senior specialist at one of the world’s biggest and most prestigious paediatric hospitals. With over twenty years’ experience working with families, he wants to reassure parents that there is no such thing as a bad child and that much of what he tells families in clinic is based on the same principles he outlines in this book.
Regardless of whether you have a young child or a teen on the brink of adulthood, by understanding the foundations of good mental health, you will be able to help them to thrive at any stage in their development.

The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel Van Der Kolk

The effects of trauma can be devastating for sufferers, their families and future generations. Here one of the world’s experts on traumatic stress offers a bold new paradigm for treatment, moving away from standard talking and drug therapies and towards an alternative approach that heals mind, brain and body.

The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt

In this book, Haidt makes a compelling argument that the loss of play-based childhood and its replacement with a phone-based childhood that is not suitable for human development is the source of increased mental distress among teenagers. The Anxious Generation delves into the latest psychological and biological research to show the four fundamental ways in which a phone-based childhood disrupts development – sleep deprivation, social deprivation, cognitive fragmentation and addiction. Haidt offers separate in-depth analyses of what has happened to girls, and what has happened to boys, offering practical advice for parents, schools, governments, and teens themselves. Drawing on ancient wisdom and cutting-edge research, this eye-opening book is a life raft and a powerful call-to-arms.

Beautiful Chaos, Jessica Urlichs

Selected poems from bestselling author and Instagram poet, Jessica Urlichs.

Motherhood is messy and beautiful, and hard and humbling. We adore our children and sometimes we miss ourselves. Beautiful Chaos is a collection of raw, honest poems about motherhood – capturing everything from pregnancy to school age.

Upon becoming a mother, Jessica Urlichs was reminded that the everyday ordinary is extraordinary. As sacred and tender as early motherhood is, it also comes with its struggles. Beautiful Chaos is a collection that chronicles it all – the highs, the lows, the confusion, the loss of identity, the becoming, and the brutal but beautiful ways our children hold mirrors up to us. This collection inspires vulnerability and will be a cathartic, healing read for anyone who needs it.

These poems will remind you of a time gone by or ground you in the current moment. Either way, they will make you feel seen and comforted amidst the beautiful chaos that is motherhood.

The Vagus Nerve Reset, Anna Ferguson

Harness the power of your vagus nerve to reduce stress, overcome anxiety and release past trauma.

Feeling anxious and disconnected are signs of a nervous system that’s out of balance. Something as small as a curt message from our boss can be perceived by our bodies as a threat to life. By understanding our physiological stress response, we can override and heal our emotional response, and fix the behaviours sabotaging our health and happiness.

In The Vagus Nerve Reset, Anna Ferguson offers somatic therapies alongside the science of Polyvagal Theory, to help us train our nervous system to stop overreacting, and start responding more calmly to day-to-day stressors and heal past experiences. Anna provides practical, immediate ways to unlock a mindful connection with our bodies, helping us become more aware of our nervous system and notice what derails us – and transform the way we respond to every kind of challenge in life.

By tuning into our vagus nerve we can gently shape our nervous system for greater resilience. This will have profound long-term positive influence on our overall health and wellbeing, providing relief from debilitating anxiety and symptoms of chronic illness.

Including a programme of mindful movement, breathwork and meditation, journalling, and more, this comprehensive guide allows us to find anchors of safety amongst the chaos, reclaim a sense of control and step into the most confident, resilient and grounded version of ourselves.

Why’s Has Nobody Told Me This Before? Dr Julie Smith

A simple, positive, practical toolkit for better mental health, from clinical psychologist and TikTok star Dr Julie Smith

Drawing on her years of experience as a clinical psychologist, Dr Julie Smith’s first book is a must-have handbook for instantly better mental health.

Filled with secrets from the therapy room, Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? offers simple advice, effective strategies and powerful coping techniques to help readers stay positive and resilient no matter what life throws their way.

Written in short, bite-sized entries, in Dr Julie’s warm and informal style, a reader can turn straight to the appropriate section depending on the challenge being faced – and immediately find tools to help. From managing anxiety, dealing with criticism or battling low mood, to building self-confidence, finding motivation or learning to forgive yourself, and much more, this book tackles everyday issues that affect us all and offers easy, practical solutions that might just change your life.

The Resilience Project, Hugh Van Cuylenburg

Hugh van Cuylenburg was a primary school teacher volunteering in northern India when he had a life-changing realisation- despite the underprivileged community the children were from, they were remarkably positive. By contrast, back in Australia Hugh knew that all too many children struggled with depression, social anxieties and mental illness. His own little sister had been ravaged by anorexia nervosa.

How was it that young people he knew at home, who had food, shelter, friends and a loving family, struggled with their mental health, while these kids seemed so contented and resilient? He set about finding the answer and in time came to recognise the key traits and behaviours these children possessed were gratitude, empathy and mindfulness.

In the ensuing years Hugh threw himself into studying and sharing this revelation with the world through The Resilience Project, with his playful and unorthodox presentations which both entertain and inform. Now, with the same blend of humour, poignancy and clear-eyed insight that The Resilience Project has become renowned for, Hugh explains how we can all get the tools we need to live a happier and more fulfilling life.

Let Go, Hugh Van Cuylenburg

From the bestselling author of THE RESILIENCE PROJECT comes this deeply personal book about the power of letting go.

If ever there was a time for us to be resilient it was when a deadly virus engulfed the planet. As death rates soared and crippling lockdowns kicked in, the Resilience Project founder Hugh Van Cuylenburg was one of the people Australia turned to in order to find out how to cope. Under pressure to deliver good news in a historic crisis, it didn’t take long for the Melbourne-based educator to realise he wasn’t coping.

Like millions of people around the world, Hugh was forced to reassess life during the 2020-21 pandemic as Covid undermined our sense of safety, strangled our personal connections and saw levels of happiness plunge. After taking the time to address his own problems, Hugh recognised he was being hamstrung by the same powerful issues that undermine the lives of many- our feelings of shame, our quest for perfection and the toxicity of social media.

In this follow-up to the best-selling The Resilience Project- Finding Happiness through Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness, Hugh combines powerful insight with research and his own disarming and candid storytelling to show how it is possible to let go of the things that are stopping us from feeling connected, safe and happy.

Authentic, Kat John

An inspiring and relatable one-stop guide to living this one life as your authentic self, from sought-after authenticity coach Kat John, host of the Real Raw Relatable podcast.

Ever felt the inkling – or maybe the inner scream – that you aren’t being true to yourself and living the life that’s really meant for you?

It’s time to rediscover your real, genuine and authentic self. Because life is too short to live any other way.

Authenticity coach Kat John finds many of her clients reach out for advice in their thirties, forties and beyond, feeling lost and unable to recognise themselves. When work, families, relationships and trauma have sent their lives in a direction that makes them wake up and wonder, How did I get here? They want, and need, to find the path back home to their authenticity.

Having overcome her own struggles, from eating disorder and drug addiction to chronic pain and an unexpected brain surgery, Kat has walked the talk of learning how to live a life of connection and fulfilment as her real self. And she’s on a mission to help others do the same.

Filled with real guidance, raw truths and relatable stories, and perfect for lovers of Glennon Doyle, Brene Brown and Gabrielle Bernstein, Authentic will speak to your soul and help you find the self-alignment that will unlock a life that is right, good and true for you.

The Myth of Normal, Gabor Mate

A book that changes everything – from the legendary Dr Gabor Mate

We tend to believe that normality equals health. Yet what is the norm in the Western world?

Mental illness is on an unstoppable rise. Some 45% of Europeans suffer high blood pressure, and nearly 70% of Americans take at least one prescription drug. Illness and trauma are defining how we live.

In his new masterpiece, renowned physician, addiction expert and author Gabor Mate dissects the underlying causes of this malaise – physical and emotional, and connects the dots between our personal suffering and the pressures of modern-day living. Over four decades of clinical experience, Dr Mate has found that the common definition of ‘normal’ is false- virtually all disease is actually a natural reflection of life in an abnormal culture, as we grow further and further apart from our true selves. But he also shows us the pathway to reconnection and healing.

Filled with stories of people in the grip of illness or in the triumphant wake of recovery, this life-affirming book shows how true health is possible – if we are willing to embrace authenticity above social expectations. The Myth of Normal is Gabor Mate’s most ambitious, compassionate and urgent book yet.

Fearless, Jelena Dokic

How do you find hope when all is lost? How do you find strength when you feel broken? How do you find your voice when you feel worthless and scared?

In Jelena Dokic’s first bestselling book, Unbreakable, the former world No. 4 revealed her incredible survival story; how she overcame adversity, poverty and violence to rise to the top of the tennis world. Jelena’s revelations about her father’s shocking abuse stunned the world.

Fearless is about how you reclaim life when all feels lost. It’s about learning to reach out for help and healing. It’s about speaking up and the power of sharing our stories. In past years Jelena has dealt with disordered eating and reclaimed her body; she has stood up to body shaming and online abuse. She has faced her mental health demons head-on to find stability in the chaos of life. She has endured a devastating relationship breakdown.

This book is about starting at the bottom and building yourself back up. Jelena opens up on how she has survived trauma and heartache to establish herself as a leading tennis commentator and motivational speaker.

The past years have taught her many tough and important lessons, and now she is ready to share them to help you find your voice and the power to thrive

The Dopamine Brain, Dr Anastasia Hronis

Clinical psychologist and founder of the Australian Institute of Human Wellness Dr Anastasia Hronis lifts the lid on dopamine to help us live by intention, not impulse.

Have you ever felt like you’re lacking control over certain habits?

Are you curious about the neuroscience behind addictive behaviours?

What if you could understand how the brain works, and use that knowledge to regain control over your habits and lead a more fulfilling life?

Sex, shopping, eating, social media, drugs and gambling are just some of the things that can trigger a release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain that is involved in the brain’s reward system. The overindulgence of certain pursuits can disrupt the level of dopamine in our brain, which can steer us towards habits that do not align with our core values.

Fortunately, The Dopamine Brain offers a clear and practical way to help people find balance and harmony in their lives. The book is divided into three parts that weaves in the latest research in neuroscience and psychology, case studies and reflective questions.

The first part delves into the inner workings of the brain, helping you understand how dopamine works and identify activities that dopamine might have you hooked on. This next part encourages you to explore and reflect on your core values and building a life that is meaningful, enduring and satisfying. The last part will help you to make the change with the help of sound psychological techniques.

By the end of this guide, Dr Hronis will help you feel empowered to make both pleasurable and purposeful choices, leading to a full, rich and meaningful life.

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