May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the Peter White Public Library has a few new items on the shelves in this area. From different conditions, to the mental health system in America today, there are resources available to help inform. Here is a very small sampling of the newest resources at the Peter White Public Library:

The Anxiety First Aid Kit by Rick Hanson, et. al.

If you’re feeling unprecedented levels of stress and anxiety right now, please know that you aren’t alone. In these extreme and uncertain times, it’s natural to be in a constant state of mental and physical strain. Whether you’re dealing with job loss, a sick loved one, or just feeling the weight of the world during your 2 a.m. doomscrolling–you need quick tools you can use right now, whenever and wherever you are, to lower stress and soothe anxiety. This emergency kit has you covered. Written by a dream team of mental health experts and grounded in evidence-based therapy, The Anxiety First Aid Kit offers powerful tools for triaging stress and anxiety in the moments when you need it most. You’ll find easy and doable ways to help you press pause on panic, and find your calm spot right away. You’ll discover in-the-moment interventions to help you relax before your anxiety and stress go into overdrive. 

Profiles in Mental Health Courage by Patrick J. Kennedy

Profiles in Mental Health Courage portrays the dramatic journeys of a diverse group of Americans who have struggled with their mental health. This book offers deeply compelling stories about the bravery and resilience of those living with a variety of mental illnesses and addictions. Several years ago, Patrick J. Kennedy shared the story of his personal and family challenges with mental illness and addiction–and the nation’s–in his bestselling memoir, A Common Struggle. Now, he and his Common Struggle coauthor, award-winning healthcare journalist Stephen Fried, have crafted this powerful new book sharing the untold stories of others–a special group who agreed to talk about their illnesses, treatments, and struggles for the first time.

When a Loved One Won’t Seek Mental Health Treatment by C. Alec Pollard

Escape the “family trap,” help your loved one on the road to recovery, and take back your life. If you have a family member who suffers from mental illness, but refuses to seek treatment, you may feel like you’re caught in a trap. If you try making life easier for your loved one, you wind up perpetuating dependency and entitlement. If you push for treatment, you are met with resistance or outright animosity. And when you reach out to professionals for help, you are told that nothing can be done unless your family member is ready to change. So, how can you escape the “family trap?” Written by clinicians and introducing the innovative family well-being approach, this essential guide provides validation and doable strategies for anyone who feels trapped by a family member or loved one suffering from mental illness. 

Loving Someone with a Serious Mental Illness by Katherine Ponte and Izzy Goncalves

Powerful and practical tools to help you support your loved one with serious mental illness, while also making room for your own needs. If you have a loved one–a spouse, adult child, or other family member–who has a mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or depression and is experiencing symptoms like psychosis, you need help right now. Delusions and hearing voices can be frightening. Mania can be unpredictable. Isolation and withdrawal can make things worse. Things are made even more challenging when your loved one is resistant to treatment. You may feel helpless watching them struggle. And you may question whether you can handle the myriad everyday practical and emotional challenges ahead. It’s important to know that you are not alone. The book never forgets one crucial truth: you have needs, too. That’s why the authors provide resources to ensure that you stay healthy, well-rested, and energized, so you can help your loved one on the path to recovery.