Reading for Wellbeing: Our Team’s Picks for World Book Day

By Mollie Smith (Academy Administrative Officer)

In mark World Book Day, we thought it would be fun to share some of our team’s recommendations – especially when thinking about how literature has helped us learn so much about the field we specialise in and helped in our personal journeys when it comes to our own mental health.

Firstly, here are some self-help books recommended by our team that focus on the research and psychology of mental health:

Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Julie Smith
Selected by Ammarah (Clinical Support Worker)
‘I think it’s a great book because it gently introduces people to concepts such as grief, anxiety, confidence, and other common emotional issues that most people will encounter at some point in their lifetimes, in an easily understandable way. It’s great for people who have no prior knowledge of mental health, and it has lots of advice and tips about how to be happy and about life in general’.

It’s Not Always Depression by Hilary Jacobs Hendel
Selected by Mollie (Academy Administrative Officer)
‘This book was initially recommended to me by my counsellor as a tool to help validate my emotions. Hendel’s Change Triangle was so useful, and I still find myself using this in my day-to-day!’

It Didn’t Start With You by Mark Wolynn
Selected by Tom (Clinical Support Worker)
‘This book was related to a topic (trauma) that I am interested in and has offered a wonderful insight to the deep and complex nature of trauma. It highlights the relationship of inherited trauma in clinical and biological perspectives in a truly fascinating way. Well worth a read if you’re interested in trauma’.

The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
Selected by Megan (Training & Education Officer)
‘Both an educational journey on how systems of oppression favour certain bodies over others as well as uplifting advice and guidance on how to reject shame and embrace your own body in all its glorious detail’.

Good Vibes, Good Life by Vex King
Selected by Ash (Stakeholder Partnerships & Business Development Manager)
‘This book was given to me during one of the most overwhelming periods of my life. I didn’t actually start reading it until a few weeks ago, but within the first few chapters I found it offered a refreshing perspective on mental health through the lens of emotional hygiene. The book focuses on the importance of self‑care, mindfulness and the power of shifting our internal narrative. It serves as a gentle reminder that while we cannot always control our circumstances, perhaps we can find small, daily ways to prioritise our peace and reclaim our own story. Even in a short time, exploring these tools has already had a meaningful impact on my life’.


We have also been recommended a couple of biographies that focus on real life stories of mental health:

Her Name is Alice by Caroline Litman
Selected by Laura (Clinical Manager)
‘It is a memoir about a young trans woman who died by suicide, and Caroline’s experiences of grief from losing her daughter. It is a very powerful book about the experiences trans people face, how this impacts their mental health, and how losing someone to suicide impacts those left behind. Anyone interested in reading needs to be aware that the book comes with several content warnings including: suicide, transphobia, grief, mental illness, self harm, and body dysmorphia’.

Bravey by Alexi Pappas
Selected by Anna (Clinical Support Worker)
‘This is a beautiful account of an Olympic runner’s journey with trauma, mental health and finding hope. Alexi seems to understand the gritty reality of fighting for your own recovery. This book came to me at the perfect moment, and I hope it can find others too’.


For some lighter reading, children’s and adult picture book:

Odell, The Fearless Octopus by Charlotte Christie & Marcela Calderon
Selected by Katie (Clinical Lead)
‘A story about addressing anxiety/fear head on. It’s about an octopus called Odell who sees a shadow which looks like a shark. Throughout the story, Odell plucks up the courage to approach the ‘shark’ to see if it is going to eat him. The shark is actually a boat with some friendly sailors aboard and all ends well. The final page in the book says –
If I’d been too nervous to swim up to that shark, I’d still be alone, being scared in the dark. But instead I’m here playing so please do take note, be brave, because sometimes, a shark is just a boat!’

The Blue Day Book by Trevor Greive
Selected by Hemali (Finance, Benefits, Housing & Debts Advisor)
‘Gifted to me at a time when I was grieving and couldn’t find the words to communicate how I was feeling. The sentences were short but uplifting and paired with the iconic animal pictures it was just what I needed, and I still go back to it for giggles too’.


But sometimes, the best book is an empty one where you can create your own healing journey, as suggested by Helen (Training & Education Officer):

‘My friend gave a book full of blank lined pages just after my partner had died – that book saved me and made it possible to communicate on many occasions! I used it to get out everything that was in my head, whether that was just scribbling, writing ‘diary’ style entries or poems or thoughts for the future. I still have it and refer back to it often. It’s a source of knowledge and recovery’.