A validating, hopeful, and practical guide to mental health.Earl (My Life Uploaded, 2018, etc.) begins this heartfelt and honest self-care guide by detailing her own struggles with and triumphs over mental illness, from anxiety, phobias, and eating disorders to OCD, psychosis, and self-harm. She also covers depression, using her mother's experiences with bipolar disorder as an example. Throughout, the author repeatedly acknowledges that everyone experiences mental illness differently, and what worked for her might not work for others, but her tips and advice are worth a try. The book also covers how to cope with a mental illness diagnosis, develop and maintain self-esteem, navigate friendships and sex, and approach drugs and alcohol. She also includes a chapter on supporting someone with a mental illness. Humorous advice and entertaining black-and-white artwork keep the tone upbeat without minimizing the seriousness of mental illness. While teen readers are the primary audience, adults who have grappled with mental illness will also find sound advice among the pages. Paratextual material includes sidebars from Dr. Radha, aka Dr. R.; the extensive backmatter includes a playlist of songs and lists of organizations, books, and apps. The accessible writing style and attractive layout enhance this appealing and useful volume.Teens struggling with mental illness will find comfort and valuable information in this superlative guide. (resources, index) (Nonfiction. 13-18)

More recognizable in the UK, where her autobiographical My Mad Fat Diary (2016), which recounts her mental health and overweight struggles in her teenage years in the 1980s, was turned into a TV show, Earl brings her insight and wit to American adolescents. In this guide, she uses candor, humor, personal anecdotes, and a conversational style to discuss topics in mental health. Earl begins with a call for accepting our imperfections, eliminating the stigma of seeking help, and recognizing that "there is no normal when it comes to brains." From here, readers may dip in and out of chapters on anxiety, eating disorders, OCD, and other mental health issues. Still more chapters address such related topics as drugs and alcohol, social media, and sex and relationships. No matter the subject, Earl emphasizes self-care (both physical and mental) and offers tips to deal with and hopefully overcome each hurdle. Funky digital art, lists, contacts for support organizations, and an "all-time favorite tunes for better mental health" playlist further the balance of cool and compassionate.

A validating, hopeful, and practical guide to mental health.Earl (My Life Uploaded, 2018, etc.) begins this heartfelt and honest self-care guide by detailing her own struggles with and triumphs over mental illness, from anxiety, phobias, and eating disorders to OCD, psychosis, and self-harm. She also covers depression, using her mother's experiences with bipolar disorder as an example. Throughout, the author repeatedly acknowledges that everyone experiences mental illness differently, and what worked for her might not work for others, but her tips and advice are worth a try. The book also covers how to cope with a mental illness diagnosis, develop and maintain self-esteem, navigate friendships and sex, and approach drugs and alcohol. She also includes a chapter on supporting someone with a mental illness. Humorous advice and entertaining black-and-white artwork keep the tone upbeat without minimizing the seriousness of mental illness. While teen readers are the primary audience, adults who have grappled with mental illness will also find sound advice among the pages. Paratextual material includes sidebars from Dr. Radha, aka Dr. R.; the extensive backmatter includes a playlist of songs and lists of organizations, books, and apps. The accessible writing style and attractive layout enhance this appealing and useful volume.Teens struggling with mental illness will find comfort and valuable information in this superlative guide. (resources, index) (Nonfiction. 13-18)