Home > Articles

May 15, 2021 | Devin Cook

Mental Health Awareness Month: What to Read and More

Most people can say they experienced stress and anxiety in the last year. According to Mental Health America, “the number of people looking for help with anxiety and depression has skyrocketed”, as reported in their State of Mental Health in America 2021 report, with people of color and LGBTQ+ youth especially suffering more from mental illness than previous years.

Mental Health America (previously the National Association of Mental Health) established Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States during the month of May in 1949 to educate the public on mental illness, reduce societal stigma, and to promote advocacy for legislation to aid those with mental illness and their families. Their research helps us understand how the country has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic mentally and emotionally.

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, and we have some resources to share that are free, and/or accessible with your library card.

LinkedIn Learning offers many tutorials on meditation, mindfulness, and other ways to manage mental health. Access these videos on breathwork and more by logging in here.

Therapy and counseling has also been shown to improve mental health, and many therapists can be seen for free through Medicaid or Kentucky health insurance. There are even many services online for teletherapy options with affordable pricing, such as Peer Collective, eTherapyPro, and more. Inclusive Therapists helps you seek reduced fee teletherapy and counseling specified for your mental health needs, letting you narrow down therapists by racial or ethnic identity, or sexual orientation. Anyone can experience the benefits of talk therapy for any reason–even for those who do not consider themselves neurodivergent! We offer free Wi-Fi access in our parking lots and around our building, which can assist you in your teletherapy journey.

Many believe in the power of mindfulness and yoga. Want to join a yoga beginners class, open to all ages and levels of experience? Join us for Bend and Book Yoga in our library garden Saturday, June 12th at 12 PM.

We have plenty of reading materials on mental health–from self-care tips to stories of surviving mental illness, you’re sure to learn more on coping mechanisms that can benefit anybody. Click on the title to learn more, check it out digitally or place a hold and pick it up at the library later on!

Adult Titles

Young Adult Titles

Juvenile Titles

Early Titles

Here are some documentaries and movies that cover stories of substance abuse recovery, coping with mental illness, and more.

We hope this Mental Health Awareness Month you can find some peace of mind and learn something along the way.