18 Mental Health Books for All Mental Health Journeys

Whether you are on a mental health journey of your own or supporting someone in your life, accessing the right resources can make all the difference. This mental health book recommendations list is drawn from a combination of beloved best-sellers and practical recommendations from our very own clinicians here at The Dawn Practice.

We begin with general mental health books, moving through practical resources and finally neurodiversity insights. No matter what you are going through right now, we hope that you find something that helps you and serves to provide strength, healing, and hope.

⭐ indicates our clinicians’ recommendations.

General Mental Health Books

From exploring the science behind how we think and feel to offering practical strategies for everyday wellbeing, these titles provide foundational knowledge for those wishing to gain a general understanding of mental health.

1. Key Concepts in Mental Health by David Pilgrim

Organised into short, accessible chapters, Key Concepts of Mental Health serves as a thoughtful guide for anyone looking to better understand mental health today. Now in its fourth edition, it brings together both theory and real-world context, exploring everything from how mental health and “abnormality” are defined to how services operate and the role mental health plays in society. Updated topics such as the bio-psychosocial model, trauma, and mindfulness reflect current thinking in the field, with suggested reading recommendations to support deeper learning.

2. Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Dr Julie Smith

We’d say that the book, Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?, is a solid starting point for anyone who is looking to better understand how the brain works in the context of mental health. Rather than treating mental health as something abstract or only relevant in crisis, Dr Smith explains how it impacts ordinary life while providing a practical guide for how people can manage their emotions. Much of what she shares may seem like common sense to those who have been on a mental health journey for a while, but the question is: are we implementing the tools that we know?

Mental Health Memoir Books

Struggling with mental illness is unfortunately a common human experience, but when we read about other people’s experiences, it can give us strength and hope for the future: “If they went through the same thing as me and got better, then maybe I can too.” Sometimes the most precious thing a book can give us is the knowledge that we’re not alone.

3. Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig

Haig takes you by the hand and walks you through the reality of a debilitating depression and anxiety, eventually emerging into a place of healing and hope. He shares his story with candour and humour, from a teenagehood of not fitting in through to an early adulthood tormented by agoraphobia and panic, and then eventually through seeking support and transforming his mental health for the better.

4. What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo

Another touching memoir, this time about generational and immigration trauma, many readers have described What My Bones Know as relatable and insightful. Despite a seemingly “perfect” life, Foo’s mental health was in jeopardy – anxiety, panic attacks, and an eventual diagnosis of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD). She goes on a journey of exploring different mental and physical health tools, eventually discovering emotional healing and a more balanced approach to life.

Mental Illness Recovery Books

If you have been on a long-time mental health journey yourself or need insights into how trauma impacts the body and mind, these titles dive deeper into evidence-backed trauma processing and therapeutic tools for recovery.

5. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk ⭐

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma is the classic insight into trauma and emotional healing, written by Bessel van der Kolk, a psychiatrist and researcher with over thirty years of cross-sectional therapeutic experience. Note that there are detailed descriptions of war violence and sexual trauma contained within, so if these issues are triggering for you, we recommend approaching with caution.

6. Mind Over Mood by Dennis Greenberger and Christine A. Padesky

Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think is a comprehensive introduction to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The authors Dennis Greenberger and Christine A. Padesky are both clinical psychologists who hold PhDs in their fields, so you can trust you are in safe hands as you walk through their steps for responding to emotional suffering, whether anxiety, depression, addiction, or low self-esteem.

7. The Happiness Trap by Dr Russ Harris

Is happiness the baseline for human wellbeing, and is there something wrong with you if you don’t feel happy most of the time? Dr Russ Harris addresses this question in The Happiness Trap, challenging modern assumptions about happiness that often lead to a sense of dissatisfaction with life. If you are experiencing depression or anhedonia (that is, a lack of interest and joy in daily life) then this book may be helpful for you. It is grounded on the Acceptance and Commitment-based Therapy (ACT) model for mental health recovery.

Addiction Recovery Books

Addiction is a common coping mechanism for trauma, a kind of escapism that might seem to work in the short term but wreaks havoc when it becomes a dependency.

8. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

A classic in addiction recovery literature, The Big Book shares the experiences and stories of recovered addicts and their process of rediscovering connection, becoming sober, and developing useful, flourishing lives. Though some of the language may be considered archaic for the modern day, it remains a cornerstone of many addiction recovery programmes across the world, not only Alcoholics Anonymous.

9. The Women’s Way Through the Twelve Steps by Stephanie Covington

For those looking for a more inclusive and affirmative book of recovery action, The Women’s Way Through the Twelve Steps is written with gentle and compassionate language, acknowledging the unique trauma and addiction challenges that women and non-binary people face. It is often used in conjunction with The Women’s Way Through the Twelve Steps recovery workbook.

Young People’s Mental Health Books

Children and young adults face both familiar and unique challenges in the 21st century. From the wild west of social media to pressures like eco-anxiety and exam stress, they need support from the adults in their life to not only survive but actually thrive as they grow up. Whether you are a caregiver or teacher, here are our top picks to help you do so.

10. The Whole Brain Child by Dr Daniel J. Siegel and Dr Tina Bryson ⭐

Neuroscientist Dr Daniel J. Siegel joins forces with parenting expert Dr Tina Payne Bryson in this holistic and practical guide for how caregivers can nurture their young person’s developing mind. Also by Siegel and Bryson, No-Drama Discipline builds on their former research to present The Whole-Brain Way to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind.

11. The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

In this erudite book, Jonathan Haidt explores the impact of social media on young people’s mental health. Backed by decades of research that maps the rise of internet technology’s integration with daily life onto the spike in mental health challenges among young people, Haidt not only shines a light on how problematic over-use of social media is but also presents hopeful solutions for the future. Even if you don’t have children or are no longer a teenager yourself, you will likely find this relevant, as many of the statistics that Haidt details are based on the childhood trends of now-adult millennial and Gen Z age groups.

12. Lost & Found by Dr Ross W. Greene ⭐

Dr Ross W. Greene provides a supportive and practical guide for teachers who are seeking to support students with challenging behaviours in Lost & Found: Unlocking Collaboration and Compassion to Help Our Most Vulnerable, Misunderstood Students. Instead of focusing on the behaviours themselves, Greene explores what it means to look at the problems causing the behaviours and go from there.

Neurodivergence Books

Neurodiversity encompasses ADHD, autism, dyspraxia, and other unique brain setups, and accounts for around 15% of the UK population. It is unsurprising then that there has been an increase in literature on the topic in recent years, and it might be hard to know where to begin! Here are some that we use at The Dawn Practice:

13. Neurodivergence Skills Workbook by Jennifer Kemp and Monique Mitchelson ⭐

The neurodivergence workbook is one of our educational psychologist Sabella Mansur’s favourites for neurodivergent adults and teens doing post-diagnostic work. Designed for autism and ADHD, it supports you to “cultivate self-compassion, live authentically, and be your own advocate”. This includes a practical, structured guide to understanding your neurotype and building supportive strategies for daily life, with exercises that help translate insight into meaningful, sustainable change.

14. Understanding ADHD in Girls and Women by Joanne Steer ⭐

ADHD is underdiagnosed in the female population, perhaps because it presents differently, and perhaps due to women adopting masking strategies to help them get by. This book offers an affirming and much-needed perspective on what it means for ADHD to present differently in girls and women, whose experiences have historically been overlooked. It combines research with lived experience to help readers better understand themselves and feel validated in their challenges.

15. How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis ⭐

Our environment impacts how we feel but unfortunately for many neurodivergent people, keeping organised is no easy task. If you are neurodivergent and feel overwhelmed by life admin and chores on top of everything else, this book may be just the thing for you. Written by an ADHDer therapist and mum who really gets it, this compassionate housework manual provides practical steps to get on track with the everyday (without sacrificing your mental health).

16. The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida ⭐

Written by Naoki Higashida, a non-speaking autistic young person, when he was just thirteen years old, The Reason I Jump offers a rare and deeply human insight into the internal experience of autism. It gives voice to the non-speaking autistic community, and is a powerful medium for building empathy and understanding, especially for those supporting autistic individuals.

17. The Adult Autism Assessment Handbook by Davida Hartman et al. ⭐

Taking a neuroaffirmative approach, this handbook is a valuable resource for both clinicians and individuals navigating adult autism assessment. It helps demystify the diagnostic process, prioritising a respectful, strengths-based understanding of autistic identity, as opposed to primarily observational diagnostic tools. The authors also include a helpful guide for neuroaffirmative language.

18. Age of Diagnosis by Suzanne O’Sullivan ⭐

Age of Diagnosis is a great book for challenging some current thinking around the predominance of medical labels, with special chapters dedicated to diagnoses like ADHD and autism. Our clinical psychologist and clinical director Laura Brougham says, “It’s VERY interesting. It provides a different perspective on the merging of Asperger and Autism from the perspective of the severe autism side.”

Speak with an Experienced Clinician

These books carry a wealth of wisdom and practical guidance on mental health and neurodivergence. They can help you expand your knowledge and find helpful coping skills for your mental health. That being said, there is a limit to what books can teach us; sometimes we need to speak with a professional about our unique circumstances and know that we have been heard.

From learning how to set healthy boundaries to processing grief or a neurodivergence diagnosis, The Dawn Practice clinicians are here for you. Most people go through difficult times, but no one needs to go through them alone. We can support you and your loved ones to rediscover peace and enjoy a fresh new beginning in life.

Reach out for mental health support.