Mental Illness in Books

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]here’s a stigma associated with mental illness in society. However, the current “cultural shift” enables individuals to feel more comfortable to express their views. Books play an important part in this cultural shift as they allow people who are impacted by mental illness to identify with an author or character, therefore alleviating their status of isolation and creating bonds between individuals and books.

Joanna Cannon’s recent coverage in The Guardian on the subject of mental illness and books praises society for becoming more welcoming about individuals impacted by mental illness. The article highlights how people affected may not be confident in expressing their views and feelings, but through the influence of specific books they become more comfortable. They are able to speak about certain issues which were previously seen as “taboo” through different works of fiction. This means they can find their own voice, confidence and understand themselves better.

Books are objects which have the ability to engage the reader with only a few words, themes or even an idea

Books are objects which have the ability to engage the reader with only a few words, themes or even an idea. The books containing the theme of mental illness have the ability to educate people about the concept, helping to reduce the stigma surrounding the subject. After some research, I found that Nobody’s Child by Marie Balter and Richard Katz is one of the many books which inspired millions of people, whilst simultaneously educating them about the issue of mental illness. It is an autobiographical account of Balter’s life after spending twenty years inside a mental hospital. She eventually graduated from Harvard University and became a writer and lecturer, whilst still representing those suffering from mental illness.

The impact of books on this issue truly symbolises how language has the ability to both engage and educate people through the same content

The positive impact of books referring to mental illness is clear for a variety of reasons: not only do the books support those suffering from mental illness, but they also educate people who would have no previous knowledge of the subject. I think it’s incredible how far society and culture has come in reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness, and the impact of books on this issue truly symbolises how language has the ability to both engage and educate people through the same content. Through the coupling of the cultural shift and the increase in mental illness books, society seems to have become a better place.

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