Mental health help by books

Sometimes the first steps are the hardest. But it’s easy to be informed. And then, equipped with knowledge, you will be in a better position to take control of your own mental health care or the mental health care of people you love. You can check out the mental health materials at your neighborhood library or ask a librarian to help you answer questions you may have about mental health care. The first highlighted book below is directed toward the self; and the second is directed toward others.

Getting Help

The Complete & Authoritative Guide to Self-Assessment & Treatment of Mental Health Problems

By Jeffrey C. Wood, Psy.D.

Adult Non-Fiction 616.89075 Wo

Get your questions answered about mental health care with this thoroughly referenced book. Learn the symptoms and characteristics of common mental health conditions, the different types of mental health professionals and the services they offer, and psycho-therapeutic and medical treatment options and how to choose an approach that is right for a particular mental health issue. The book includes some helpful self-assessment tools.

You Need Help!

A Step-by-Step Plan to Convince a Loved One to Get Counseling

By Mark S. Komrad, M.D.

Adult Non-Fiction 616.89 Komrad

Dr. Komrad, an award-winning psychiatrist associated with Johns Hopkins University and Sheppard Pratt Hospital, deploys a combination of user-friendly tools and real-life stories to provide guidance on how to help a loved one. He recommends the following: become informed about mental illness, determine when professional help is warranted, choose when and how to make the first approach, gather allies, select the right professional and support your loved one. The book includes scripts based on Komrad’s work with his patients, designed to help you anticipate next steps and arm you with tools to respond constructively and compassionately.

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Carolyn Larsen is branch manager at Lihue Public Library.