South Ayrshire Youth Forum's Guide to Self Help Books
Expert-endorsed books for 13 to 18 year olds, providing advice and information about mental health.
Click on the book to find out more and where to access it!
- 1. Anxiety, Worry and Panic
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The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
My Anxious Mind: A Teen's Guide to Managing Anxiety and Panic by Michael A. Tompkins
The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook for Teens by Jennifer Shannon
Anxiety survival guide for teens by Jennifer Shannon
- 2. OCD
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Breaking Free from OCD: A CBT Guide for Young People and their Families by Jo Derisley
The unlikely hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten
Touch and Go Joe: an adolescent's experience of OCD by Joe Wells
- 3. Depression and Mood Swings
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Am I depressed, and what can I do about it? by Shirley Reynolds
Can I tell you about depression? by Christopher Dowrick, Susan Martin
I had a black dog: his name was depression by Matthew Johnstone
Don't let your emotions run your life for teens by Sheri Van Dijk
- 4. Body Image and Eating Disorder
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Banish Your Body Image Thief by Kate Collins-Donnelly
Can I Tell You About Eating Disorders? by Bryan Lask, Lucy Watson
Tyranny by Lesley Fairfield
- 5. Confidence and Self Esteem
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Face by Benjamin Zephaniah
Self-Esteem and Being You by Anita Naik
Banish Your Self-Esteem Thief by Kate Collins-Donnelly
- 6. Stress
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Fighting Invisible Tigers: Stress Management for Teens by Earl Hipp
The Teenage Guide to Stress by Nicola Morgan
- 7. Bullying
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Bullies, Cyberbullies and Frenemies by Michelle Elliot
Vicious: True Stories by Teens About Bullying edited by Hope Vanderberg
- 8. Autism and Asperger Syndrome
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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome by Luke Jackson
The Reason I Jump: One Boy's Voice from the Silence of Autism by Naoki Higashida
- 9. Wellbeing, Mental Health, Coping, Feeling Fine, Self Esteem and Learning About Life
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Blame my Brain by Nicola Morgan
Mind Your Head by Juno Dawson
Stuff That Sucks: Accepting What You Can't Change and Committing to What You Can by Ben Sedley
The Self-Esteem Team's Guide to Sex, Drugs and WTFs!? by Grace Barrett, Natasha Devon and Nadia Mendoza
Every Day by David Levithan
House of Windows by Alexia Casale
I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
Kite Spirit by Sita Brahmachari
Quiet the Mind: An Illustrated Guide on How to Meditate by Matthew Johnstone
- 10. ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
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Putting on the Brakes: Understanding and Taking Control of Your Add or ADHD by Patricia O. Quinn
Further info and help
- BSL Healthy Minds - Mental Health help in British Sign Language
- YoungMinds - information about mental health and emotional wellbeing
- ReThink - information and useful tips for young people on staying well and all about mental health problems
- Support In Mind Scotland - Support and action for people with mental illness - runs projects in many local areas around Scotland
- NHS Choices - information on depression
If you think you have depression, it's important to see your doctor.