Books/Videos for Families

I'm Not Alone: A Teen's Guide to Living with a Parent Who Has Mental Illness by Michelle D. Sherman, Ph.D. and DeAnne M. Sherman

This book explains mental illness in easy to understand terms, helps teens understand common emotional reactions, and suggests a wide variety of coping strategies. It covers a wide variety of topics, including identifying a social support network, telling (or not telling) friends, and supporting a parent without feeling responsible for their recovery. The book closes with an excellent resource section and notes for professionals and parents/caregivers.

A Family Caregiver Speaks Up by Suzanne Mintz

This book, written by caregivers, offers advice for interacting with the healthcare system to help a family member with a chronic illness, and information about public policy and it's effect on the details of life in caregiving families.

When Nothing Matters Anymore by Bev Cobain

In 1994, rock star Kurt Cobain ended his battle with depression by taking his own life. Bev Cobain is his cousin and in this book, she reaches out to teens suffering with depression so they can get the help and support they need.

The Pain of Depression: A Journey Through the Darkness

American Public Television and Freedom From Fear, a non-profit, national mental health advocacy organization, have collaborated to present this film which explores the physical and emotional challenges of an illness which afflicts more than 30 million Americans each year.

Uncertain Inheritance, An: Writers on Caring for Family by Nell Casey

A touching series of essays about people caring for family members with illness as varied as depression or brain injuries.

The Good Teen: Rescuing Adolescence from the Myths of the Storm and Stress Years by Richard M. Lerner

Teaches parents about the Five C's: Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character, and Caring in helping teenagers through the journey of adolescence.

How I Stayed Alive When My Brain Was Trying To Kill Me: One Person's Guide to Suicide Prevention by Susan Rose Blauner

Susan Rose Blauner talks opening about her history of suicidal thoughts, behaviors and hospitalizations, offering guidance to those who are coping with similar circumstances.

The Peace of Mind Prescription: An Authoritative Guide to Finding the Most Effective Treatment for Anxiety and Depression by Dennis S. Charney and Charles B. Nemeroff

A useful guide to identify, treat, and help overcome anxiety and depression.

Undoing Depression: What Therapy Doesn't Teach You and Medication Can't Give you by Richard O'Connor

A pragmatic guide for to help treat and understand depression.

I Don't Want to Talk About It: Overcoming The Secret Legacy of Male Depression by Terrence Real

An in depth examination of the stigma of depression in men.

Crazy: A Father's Search Through America's Mental Health Madness Pete Earley

How would you feel, Dad, Mike asked, "if someone you loved killed himself?..."

CrazyBusy: Overstretched, Overbooked, and About to Snap! Strategies for Handling Your Fast-Paced Life by Dr. Edward Hallowell

Stressed out? Overworked? This book provides strategies for coping in an over-demanding world.

SHOCK by Kitty Dukakis, Larry Tye

For more than twenty years, Kitty Dukakis battled severe depression with every medication and treatment available. Electroconvulsive therapy- ECT finally helped her.

College of the Overwhelmed Overwhelmed by Richard Kadison, Theresa Foy DiGeronimo

Almost half of all students will become seriously depressed during their college career; the authors give help for students and parents

The Burden of Sympathy by David Allen Karp

Karp, a sociology professor presents the stories of 60 families afflicted with a mental illness.

Depression Fallout by Anne Sheffield

Is your partner's depression undermining your happiness as a couple? What you need to know about your partner's mentalhealth and what to do about it ... for your own well-being.

Helping Someone with Mental Illness by Rosalynn Carter.

Deeply moving stories of many individuals into a cleanly organized discussion of every salient issue: diagnosis, treatment, scientific research, stigma, advocacy.

Helping Yourself Help Others : A Book for Caregivers by Rosalynn Carter and Susan Golant.

Describes the stages the caregiver progresses through, from first facing the illness or declining health of a loved one to the "long-term, hard-work phase of caregiving."

Hidden Victims - Hidden Healers by Julie T. Johnson

From her experience, Julie Johnson outlines Eight Stages of dealing with someone who has a mental illness.

How You Can Survive When They're Depressed by Anne Sheffield

Gives coping strategies for those living with a clinical depressive or manic-depressive, who often suffer in silence, believing their own problems have no claim to attention.

Nothing to Hide by Jean Beard, Peggy Gillespie, Gigi Kaeser.

This book features posed but casual portraits and candid first-person accounts of mentally ill people and their families.

Parenting Well When You're Depressed: A Complete Resource for Maintaining a Healthy Family by Joanne Nicholson

Based on more than ten years of study of depressed parents and their families, this book offers strategies, action plans, and resources to help depressed parents provide for their children's healthy development.

What to Do When Someone You Love Is Depressed by Mitch Golant, Susan K. Golant

Directed toward the caregiver or "strengthened ally" of any of the more than seventeen million Americans who suffer from this common but often misunderstood affliction

When Someone You Love Has a Mental Illness by Rebecca Woolis, Agnes Hatfied

This book is a step-by-step guide to more successful interpersonal relationships between family and patients.

When Someone You Love Is Depressed by Laura Epstein Rosen, Xavier F. Amador

The authors teach concrete methods that you and your loved one can use to protect yourselves and your relationship from depression's impact.

I Am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help. by Xavier Amador

Learn more about how to help a loved one with mental illness.

A Mood Apart. by Peter C. Whybrow

Learn more about the human side of mood disorders and mental illness.

Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide. by David Miklowitz

Filled with solid information and practical advice on dealing with bipolar disorder.

Bipolar Disorder: A Guide for Patients and Families. by Francis Mark Mondimore

A practical guide for getting the most out of various treatment options.