12 Mental Health Improvement Books for Teens

by Katherine Speller

Amazon Rating:   5/5 stars

This is not your doctor’s dry health pamphlet or a preachy self-care listicle. The Beasts in Your Brain is a guide and companion equally for you and your loved ones, here to provide that essential first dose of information, understanding, and validation about mental illness and how it affects the young people of today.

This book knows how much harder things are for you and your generation, how out-of-touch much of the advice out there is (after all, how are you supposed to “just unplug” when more than half your social life is conducted online?), and how identity, circumstances, and stigma can affect your experiences.

Though they might be scary or seem unstoppable, the beasts can be defeated. It will be hard work, but it is not work you will ever have to do alone. This book will be your first partner in your battle against the beasts, reminding you that there’s always hope and humor to be found in openly talking about the realities of living with mental illness. Together with the support of your loved ones and the practical knowledge and tools you will learn in this book, you can win this fight.

by Michael Anthony Tompkins and Katherine A. Martinez
Illustrated by Michael Sloan

Amazon Rating:   4.5/5 stars

My Anxious Mind helps teens feel more confident and empowered in the process of taking control of their anxious feelings. It also offers ways for teens with anxiety to improve their inter-personal skills, manage stress; handle panic attacks; use diet and exercise appropriately; and decide whether medication is right for them.

Can you spare 30 minutes to feel less anxious?

​Go ahead. Think about how your life would be different if you were less anxious. What would change? Would you try out for the basketball team? Ask someone out on a date? Would you sleep better and feel less tense? Would you feel calmer and happier?

by Gabby Scollard

Amazon Rating:  4.6 /5 stars

If your mind has ever made you feel like the world would be a better place without you, that is not YOU talking. That is your mental illness blurring your ability to see that better days are coming, a symptom of being sick.

This book is a survival guide from a teenage girl who felt the heaviness of depression and lived to see the other side. Every time I felt like letting my mental illness win, I wrote down a reason why I shouldn’t, why I needed to stay alive. These 365 reminders are what helped me tackle suicidal thoughts head on, and now I want to help you do the same.

“Why I Stay” sets your focus on staying to see tomorrow. You don’t always have to feel excited for the future; sometimes it’s enough to simply be curious about what’s to come.

by Sissy Goff

Amazon Rating:  4.7/5 stars

As a parent, you can use certain strategies to help your teenage daughter when she struggles with worry and anxiety. But it is also important that she learns how to work through her emotions on her own, especially as she approaches adulthood.

With teen-friendly information, stories, and self-discovery exercises, your daughter can learn practical ways to fight back when worries come up. She will find more of her voice and her confidence. In essence, she will find more of herself and the brave, strong, deeply loved girl God made her to be.

by Leo Black

Amazon Rating:   4.8/5 stars

In The Dopamine Reset – 21 Day Detox, Leo Black offers a transformative plan to help you break free from the addictive behaviors that keep you distracted, overwhelmed, and unfulfilled. Whether you’re constantly glued to your phone, chasing instant gratification, or struggling with other unhealthy habits, this book provides the tools you need to reset your brain’s reward system and rebuild mental clarity.

Inside this guide, you’ll discover:

• A step-by-step 21-day plan to detox your brain and create healthier, more fulfilling habits.
• Practical techniques to help you regain focus, build resilience, and find balance in all areas of your life.
• Mindfulness exercises and tools to reduce anxiety and develop long-term mental strength.
• Ways to improve sleep quality and boost motivation by resetting your brain’s reward system.
• Strategies for maintaining long-term mental clarity and avoiding future distractions.
• Tips on how to create lasting changes that lead to better relationships, productivity, and well-being.

By following this 21-day program, you’ll learn how to free yourself from the endless cycle of dopamine-driven distractions and take control of your happiness and success.

Whether you’re seeking relief from social media addiction, unhealthy eating patterns, or constant tech distractions, The Dopamine Reset will guide you toward a more mindful, balanced, and purposeful life.

by Jodi Aman

Amazon Rating:   4.6/5 stars

If you are done with anxiety running your life and want to end that destructive, toxic relationship, this book is for you. Getting back this control over yourself and your life is teachable. The path is not esoteric and mystical, it is practical. There are repeatable, doable steps at your fingertips.

This workbook shows you how to release fear and confusion that causes anxiety, depression, and self-doubt to free you up to trust yourself. This guide will give you permission and know-how to engage in the joy of adventure, creativity, and purpose in your life.

• You’ll understand anxiety and negative self-judgment so well so that it is no longer scary.
• You’ll realize how anxiety lies to make you feel vulnerable and alone.
• You’ll finally let go of trying to be perfect, fully accepting yourself, beautifully imperfect as you are.
• You will learn daily practices to hone the skills and abilities to keep your brain well and happy. Know how to generate happiness in your life. And, keep it there.

by Jacqueline B. Toner, and Claire A. B. Freeland

Amazon Rating:   4.6/5 stars

by Maeve Ronan

Amazon Rating:   4.6/5 stars

Being a teenager can suck, but it doesn’t have to forever. Learn how to get started on your dreams, even if you have no idea what you want to do with your life. Discover strategies to build confidence and overcome your insecurities.

This isn’t like other teen self-help books– it’s written by a 23-year-old you can actually relate to.

Maeve Ronan has been collecting advice from successful people around the world for the past 3 years, and now she’s sharing it all with Gen Z in a totally non-boring way. In her debut book, Maeve Ronan shares the top 3 life insights she wishes she knew as a teen when she was struggling with anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts.

Learn how to regain hope, let go of stress, and believe in yourself. Even if your life sucks right now, just hang on– it’ll get better. Now let’s talk about how to actually make it better…

by Korie Leigh

Amazon Rating:   5/5 stars

Whether teens are in the midst of their first grief experience or have experienced grief before, It Won’t Ever Be the Same is designed to support them. Reflections, analogies, and suggested activities within the pages guide teens in working through and making sense of their personal and complex grief experiences, and words and artwork from other grieving teens help them feel less alone and more connected.

It Won’t Ever Be the Same is a validating and reassuring book that speaks directly to teens experiencing grief, providing them with tools to understand, express, and cope. Written by grief counselor Dr. Korie Leigh, the book touches upon big milestones in the grief journey, starting with new grief and continuing through the days, weeks, months, and years after.

Each chapter ends with a Give It a Try activity idea to help teens build an understanding of what they’re going through. Other moments throughout invite teens to reflect on a specific question or experience, tune in to what they’re feeling, or try out a new way of viewing or being in their grief.

by Penny Alexander, Becky Goddard-Hill, and Collins Kids

Amazon Rating:   4.7/5 stars

From the authors of the best-selling Create Your Own Happy, this book for teenagers gives you 50 easy and empowering ways to boost happiness in all areas of your life and the science behind why they work.

Being a teen has its own unique challenges, but it’s also the perfect time to shape your own mental wellbeing and happiness. Scientists reckon 40% of your happiness is within your control, that’s A LOT of happiness and Create Your Own Happy for Teenagers can help you harness it…This insightful guide will give you the tools to amp up your happiness levels, build confidence and eliminate those negative feelings.

There are tons of ways to keep those happy feelings flowing from creating an anxiety toolkit, planning a digital detox to practising mindfulness with meditating and forest bathing.

Carry out confidence boosting activities independently or with family and friends while learning about the surprising science behind emotional resilience along the way. There’s no reason why you can’t take your happiness into your own hands and create your own happy future!

by Cheryl M. Bradshaw

Amazon Rating:  4.4 /5 stars

Don’t let your inner critic get in the way of being confident! How to Like Yourself offers a quirky, inspiring, and practical guide to help you overcome feelings of self-criticism, improve self-esteem, and be the true star in your life.

With all the pressures of school, friends, and dating, you’re especially vulnerable to low self-esteem in your teen years. But often, the biggest threat to your confidence is your own inner critic—whose unrelenting negativity can result in feelings of inadequacy, depression, and anxiety. This must-have guide offers real ways to help you fight back, be kind to yourself, and move forward with confidence.

Inside, you’ll learn the importance of self-forgiveness, accepting your faults, and how to focus on the things that make you awesome! You’ll also learn strategies for defeating the dreaded ICK—the inner critic know-it-all who keeps knocking you down—and how to escape the common thought traps that hold you back from feeling good about yourself.

This book unlocks the mystery of the most important relationship you will ever have—the one with yourself! So, get ready to find your true inner voice. A kinder, gentler one that will support you as you reach for your goals and create the fabulous life you were meant to live!

by Michelle Skeen, PsyD and Kelly Skeen

Amazon Rating:   4.7/5 stars

Stop comparing yourself to others—you’re special just as you are! In this fun, practical guide, you’ll learn how to silence your nit-picky inner critic, cultivate self-compassion, and discover what really matters to you.

If you’re like many teens, you probably feel pressured to live up to the impossible standards set by our culture, the media, and even by your peers. After all, everyone wants perfect hair, a perfect body, cool friends, and good grades. But while it’s okay to strive to be your best, it’s also easy to get caught up in a never-ending comparison game that can feed your inner critic and rob you of your happiness. So, how can you break free from negative self-criticism and learn to appreciate your strengths?

In Just As You Are, psychologist Michelle Skeen and her daughter, Kelly Skeen, offer simple tips to help you overcome feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness, stop comparing yourself to others, and be more open and accepting of all aspects of who you are. You’ll also learn how to be more aware of your thoughts and feelings in the moment using powerful mindfulness tools, and build a plan of action for the future based on your values.

Sometimes it’s hard to see yourself with clarity and kindness. With this important guide, you’ll learn to move past your faults, celebrate your true strengths, and discover what really matters in your life. What are you waiting for?