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1. Are mental illnesses in literature accurately represented to early elementary students?

2. Do books go beyond informing about mental health to provide skills to help youth maintain their own?

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Telgemeier, R. (2019). Guts. Scholastic Inc.

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Telgemeier, R. (2019). Guts. Scholastic Inc.

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Guts is a young adult graphic novel follows the author's experiences with anxiety and depression during her pre-teen years. She lives in the world paranoid that someone will get sick or vomit in her presence. The anxiety begins to control her life. This book also involves the author's fear of what her friends or classmates will think if they knew she had this anxiety and attended therapy. She eventually discovers that a large number of her peers also have similar experiences and attend therapy. A message like this can help students with similar struggles to relate and to know that they are not alone.

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Garcia, G. (2017). Listening With My Heart. Gabi Garcia Books.

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Garcia, G. (2017). Listening With My Heart. Gabi Garcia Books.

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This introduction to mental health for children takes the reader on a journey of self-love and acceptance. The story goes a step past preaching self-compassion by providing instruction on how to foster these positive traits into yourself.

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Rowland, J. (2021). Big Bear Was Not The Same. Beaming Books.

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Rowland, J. (2021). Big Bear Was Not The Same. Beaming Books.

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Big Bear Was Not The Same follows a big and little bear that are great friends and go on many adventures together. When big bear has a traumatic experience with a wildfire, he begins to feel depressed and scared. He no longer wants to do the same activities or go on the same adventures with little bear like he used to. A story like this can help young students to experience their feelings in a healthy and real life form. It also can help guide students to seek help and speak to a trusted person in their life.

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James, L. (2020). I Promise. HarperCollins.

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James, L. (2020). I Promise. HarperCollins.

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Alber, D. (2019). A Little Spot of Anxiety. Diane Alber Art LLC.

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Alber, D. (2019). A Little Spot of Anxiety. Diane Alber Art LLC.

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This illustrated non-fiction books informs young children about why we feel anxiety. The anxiety spot informs the readers that anxiety can come from ordinary events and not just trauma. This is a fun way to teach younger elementary grades about their emotions and mental health. This can also deepen the understanding of anxiety for older students and help them be more aware of their feelings.

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Ryan, B. (2021, May 20). The Forest Always Changes. ThisIsMyBrave.org

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Ryan, B. (2021, May 20). The Forest Always Changes. ThisIsMyBrave.org

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This poem, The Forest Always Changes, has a short but impactful message that can hold a great deal of meaning to children who are struggling with mental health issues. It highlights experiencing a positive change to your world that can help support students who may feel lost.

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By Bethany Ryan

About the Author:
My name is Bethany Ryan. I am an Army veteran living in Leesburg, VA. One of my main goals in life is to be open about my struggles so that those who struggle in silence know they are not alone. I firmly believe that silence is deadly. People need to know that they aren't alone in their struggles, that everyone else doesn't have it all put together, and that there isn't shame in needing help.

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The Forest Always Changes - This Is My Brave

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The forest always changes is a poem about being open about our struggles so that those who struggle in silence know they are not alone.