Why Fiction is a gateway to the world of mental health

by Anuska Saha

As Mental Health Awareness Week comes to an end, we are left with a better understanding of ourselves and the ones near and dear to us. Mental health should undoubtedly be a priority, and being compassionate and empathetic is a definite fact. Now that the celebrations are over, you might feel slightly confused - how can I familiarize myself more with this topic? Well, I believe there’s no better way to acquaint yourself with this field than to consume literature with similar themes!

Plenty of literature does not selectively fall into the category of mental health unless they are non-fiction and written exclusively for the same. While they can be excellent in conveying their points, the engagement with readers does fall flat on many occasions. To me, a lot of self-help and wellness books feel rather sermonizing, which makes it off-putting. I am not discouraging anyone from delving into such books - you are free to do as you please. However, if you ever feel the need to consume such content with a spin in perspective and literary style, fiction is a good way to start.

What makes fiction so good for sensitive themes like mental health is that it provides a platform for readers to connect wholeheartedly with the characters and their life experiences. The chances of the reader having similar backgrounds or circumstances are always 50-50, but the reader has the front seat in the theatre of the character’s life, leaving them no choice but to face the brunt of the character’s emotions.

As mentioned before, any good book will top the rungs in terms of consistency and engagement, and that holds for books with mental health themes. The book may get technical with its descriptions (if the story demands so), but it would still manage to keep the readers’ attention on the plot.

But the most fundamental aspect of fiction is not its engagement, consistency, or command of grammar (albeit crucial aspects) - it is the plot! If the characters are more than two-dimensional beings, if the world-building is impeccable, and if the events are logically consistent, even the book farthest away from the genre of mental health can end up being a harbinger of the same.

For those interested in reading up on this theme, I suggest checking out lists by Reader’s Digest, Simon Teen, and Goodreads. Mental Health in fiction is a fascinating genre to explore, and a great starting point for improving your sensitivity and widening your perspective on difficult topics. Do think of picking up a book starting today!

Editor's Insight: Suggest some books down below that discuss mental health in a powerful and learned way.