Books to help you with depression
Find books to help children and young adults cope with depression.
The colour thief, by Andrew Fusek Peters and Polly Peters
We follow a young boy who loves spending time with his dad, doing fun things together. When his father becomes sad and distant, he doesn't understand and believes he has done something to make his dad so, despite being told otherwise. Time passes and his father begins to get happier again and they have fun together like before. Narrated from the child's perspective and illustrated with beautiful pictures by the award-winning artist Karin Littlewood, this is the perfect book to read with children aged 7-9 years old who are trying to understand the cause and effects of depression, and reassure them that depression passes and their parents are not lost to them.
Am I depressed (and what can I do about it?), by Shirley Reynolds and Monika Parkinson
Depression is one of the most common mental health problems and is estimated to affect around 15% of people at some point during their life. For many people depression is a life-long disorder which starts during the teenage years - around 10% of teenagers are estimated to have an episode of depression and many more experience persistent low mood. This accessible, engaging and age-appropriate self-help guide based on current research and best practice for young people aged 13 to 17 who experience low mood and depression, and their friends, family and health professionals.
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Michael Rosen's sad book, by Michael Rosen
We all have 'sad stuff' to deal with in life. What makes Michael Rosen most sad is thinking about his son, Eddie, who died. In this book he writes about his sadness, how it affects him, and some of the things he does to try to cope with it.
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Can I tell you about depression?, by Christopher Dowrick and Susan Martin
Meet Julie - a women who suffers from periods of depression. Julie and her family help readers to understand what depression is, what it is like to feel depressed and how it can affect their family life. She explains how coping with depression can sometimes be very difficult but there is support and help available that can relieve the feelings of depression.