If you Google depression books or memoirs for mental health, most posts and lists that you receive in the results are going to recommend to read The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.
The book was first published in 1963 and while the copyright page on my book states that it is a work of fiction, most references to the novel state that it was Sylvia Path's autobiography with names changed.
The beginning of the book is slow to get into. Very mundane details without much reference to mental health, which is what I was looking for when I started the book. However, depression isn't always something 'big' that rises up and changes our whole life. I think the beginning of this book, while slow and hard to get into as a ready, is incredibly relative to depression and the overlaying weight of the emotion that presses down on every day life.
The second half of the book held my interest more as it describes more of her bouts of depression and suicidal thoughts (more what I wanted to get to know) and her treatment as well as her personal reaction to her treatment. Discouragingly though, reports note that the author committed suicide one month after her book was published in the UK (Wikipedia).
Overall, I would recommend the book to someone who is experiencing depression and wants to feel less alone. However, it is important to note that it is not a book or story necessarily about overcoming depression though there can be a few takeaways of encouragement. What is most important about this book is that you are not alone; many people around us experience depression and it's often pervasive, lasting over years of our lives with no exit.
Furthermore, another takeaway from the author's personal story is that depression can be fatal if not addressed. It's unfortunate that our world lost someone so articulate far before her time. If you need help in addressing your mental health and/or depression, contact us today. Help is out there for you.
Comment below if you have read this book and your thoughts about it, including if you found it helpful and why.
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