In addition to Disability Pride Month, July also brings awareness to Minority Mental Health, and since I recently made a booklist about Disability Pride, I wanted to share some more books focused on the BIPOC and queer audience. In its full name, Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Month was established in July of 2008 to honor Bebe Moore Campbell, who fought for mental health awareness in minority groups, and sadly passed after a battle with cancer. To honor Campbell’s important contribution to minority mental health awareness, I have gathered some books from our collection to share with you here!
The first book that comes to mind is a two-part piece comes from Ntozake Shange’s “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf.” This book has two distinctive sections that explore the world of race, gender, and mental health through extremely powerful poetic monologues. Shange captures the pain, joy, and strength of Black women, making it a seminal piece in both literature and mental health advocacy.
Another poetic piece, this time focusing on the struggles of queer persons struggling with body image and self-worth comes from “Revenge Body” by Rachel Wiley. This book is full of raw and emotional poetic pieces about personal transformation and the expression of self-love. Another collection I found, this time looking at the similar themes of identity and sexuality faced by Indigenous people groups. “Making Love with the Land” by Joshua Whitehead eloquently explores Indigenous identity, especially that experienced by Two-Spirit identifying individuals through varying poems and essays.
Similarly, Terese Marie Mailhot also dives into the complexities of mental illness, trauma, and the author’s journey to healing as an Indigenous woman in “Heart Berries.” Mailhot’s raw and lyrical prose brings to light the enduring impacts of intergenerational trauma and the ongoing struggles for self-worth and understanding, making it a deeply resonant and essential read. Next is another masterful memoir that combines essays from an immigrant’s experience comes from Grace Talusan’s “The Body Papers.” Talusan examines the impact of trauma and immigration on mental health, revealing the author’s path to self-discovery and empowerment by recounting her experiences of abuse, cancer, and her powerful resilience.
Now, moving onto a couple of fictional pieces by immigrants, we look at one of my favorite novels, “Darius the Great is Not Okay” by Adib Khorram. In this novel, our main character, Darius, is a queer Iranian immigrant who grapples with the experiences of youth, while also fighting depression, family expectations, and self-acceptance, providing a heartfelt depiction of the challenges faced by queer youth of color. On the other side of the country, another immigrant story, this time told from a Puerto-Rican perspective is found in “More Happy Than Not” by Adam Silvera. Silvera explores the complexities of coming out, the impact of loss, and the lengths one might go to in order to find happiness, making it a compelling read for those seeking understanding and empathy.
Now, turning to the youthful audience, I wanted to touch on “Youth Suicide” by Wanda Johnson, a book that explores the heavy and often overlooked subject of suicide among young people, offering a powerful perspective on the struggles faced by marginalized youth. Johnson’s work is a heartfelt call to action, urging communities to address mental health disparities and provide better support for at-risk youth, particularly those from minority backgrounds.
With that, we can move on to Francisco Stork’s “The Memory of Light.” “The Memory of Light” offers a compassionate look at a Latina teenager’s recovery from a suicide attempt, emphasizing the importance of support, understanding, and hope in the face of mental illness. And finally, a wonderfully illustrated graphic novel by Monzūsū and Ben Trethewey is “My Brain is Different,” which provides an insightful exploration of neurodiversity, highlighting the unique experiences and challenges faced by individuals with different neurological conditions. Through compelling stories and detailed accounts, this book fosters greater understanding and acceptance of neurodiverse individuals, encouraging a more inclusive and compassionate approach to mental health.
Mental health is not secluded to any specific population; people of all different experiences can face the struggles of depression, anxiety, neurodivergence, and far more. It is the duty of the fortunate few to be there to help guide those struggling with such difficulties, and I hope that some of these books can help us all in understanding one another. Happy Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Month!
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