Reading List

This is a list of books (and movies) that deal with depression and suicide. I will try to list as much information about each book as is helpful. Starred books have been recommended by WDC members.

I will comment on books I am familiar with. If you have read any of these books, please email me and let me know what you think of them. If you know any good books that are not listed, please let me know.

Please note that no book can ever take the place of therapy. If you need help, please reach out to someone. If you need immediate help, please call one of the numbers listed here "Safe Harbor"  Remember that any of these books could be a trigger for you.

Non-fiction
A Bright Red Scream: Self-Mutilation and the Language of Pain by Marilee Strong
Strong was one of the first writers to deal with self-injury. This book contains a lot of information and case studies. WARNING: This book is very triggery. Do not read it when you are feeling low. I was only able to read a chapter or two before putting it down.

Suicide the Forever Decision: For Those Thinking About Suicide, and for Those Who Know, Love, or Counsel Them by Paul G. Quinnett

Why Suicide?: Answers to 200 of the Most Frequently Asked Questions About Suicide, Attempted Suicide, and Assisted Suicide by Eric Marcus This is a great resource. The author has also written an excellent book called Is It a Choice? full of questions and answers about gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendereds.

The Courage to Heal by Ellen Bass and Laura Davis.
A friend tells me this is a great book for survivors of sexual abuse. She has worked through the exercises in it and found them to be very helpful.

Cutting: Understanding and Overcoming Self-Mutilation by Steven Levenkron

Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide by Kay Redfield Jamison

The Noonday Demon by Andrew Solomon
This book is kind of a history of depression. The chapter on hope towards the end is supposed to be uplifting.

Unholy Ghosts: Writers on Depression by Neil Casey
A collection of essays by famous writers about their struggles with depression.

2,001 Things To Do Before You Die by Dane Sherwood
You are not allowed to die before you complete every last one! Actually, this list may give you some hope and help you start dreaming again.

The Little Book of Moods: 101 Ways to Identify and Deal With Any Emotion by Jane Eldershaw
This books is neat for several reasons. It recognizes that there are different shades to the basic emotions of happy, sad, afraid, ashamed, and angry. It names them too, helping you to figure out what you are feeling. Then it offers some tips on dealing with that emotion.

Hello, Cruel World: 101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks, and Other Outlaws by Kate Bornstein
The introduction to this book goes on for a long time and some of it is rambling and opinionated. This book may be better used by flipping through it to find information.

The Sedona Method by Hale Dwoskin
The actual method is revealed early in the book. In fact, I have never read past that section. I have used this technique in the past and found it helpful.

The Lost Soul Companion: A Book of Comfort and Constructive Advice for Black Sheep, Square Pegs, Struggling Artists, and Other Free Spirits by Susan M. Brackney
I haven't read all of this book. I have forgotten much of what I have read. But I do remember that it was full of comfort. Excerpts can be found here: http://www.lostsoulcompanion.com/LSC_excerpts.html

Anything by Sark. Sark writes colorful books that she also illustrates. They are filled with positive thoughts and inspiration.

2,002 Ways to Cheer Yourself Up by Cyndi Haynes

How to Change Your Entire Life By Doing Absolutely Nothing: 10 Do-Nothing Relaxation Exercises to Calm You Down Quickly So You Can Speed Forward Faster by Karen Salmansohn

The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne D. Dyer
This book helped me to start seeing the world in a more positive way. It is not explicitly about depression, but it is about living a fuller life.

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
I listened to the book on CD in January. It has had a profound effect on my life. It teaches you how to focus on positive thoughts and attract positive things into your life.

You Can Heal Your Life by Louise L. Hay
I have not read this book but I am familiar with the author's work. I use affirmations from her books and card decks every day. Louise is a leader in the self-help field and I find her work to be very healing and accessible.

I Can Do It by Louise L. Hay
This book contains all her powerful affirmations. Affirmations are a great way to boost self-esteem and invite healing into your life.

There Is Nothing Wrong With You: Going Beyond Self-Hate by Cheri Huber
I devoured most of this book in one sitting! It is very freeing to realize that you are wonderful just as you are. Cheri suggests meditation as a way of gaining self-knowledge, self-love, and self-esteem. So reading this book alone is not enough. But it is a very good start on the path to self-acceptance.

Memoirs
Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen
Miss Kaysen's memoir of her time spent in an institution.

Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel
The first of several books recollecting the author's struggle with depression. This book helped me to feel less alone. I was able to relate to the author.

Addicted to Suicide: A Woman Struggling to Live by Mary Savage

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

Spilling Open by Sabrina Ward Harrison
A book about self-expression and personal growth; a chronicle of the author's journey from adolescence to adulthood filled with collages, poetry, and quotes.

Between the Dreaming and the Coming True by Robert Benson

4:48 Psychosis by Sarah Kane
This one-woman play reads like a confessional poem as the main character struggles with her suicidal thoughts and depression. It is a raw, unflinching portrayal of despair. Unfortunately, the playwright later committed suicide. Her words, however, live on.

Fiction
Cut by Patricia McCormick
This novel helped me. I found a kindred soul in the protagonist Callie and reading her story gave me the strength to keep going and to get help for myself.

The Luckiest Girl in the World by Steven Levenkron
Another novel that helped me feel less alone.

Veronica Decides to Die by Paul Coelho
This is a novel about a woman who commits suicide but calls for help at the last minute. She is placed in an institution where she starts to see life differently. I have only read the first half of this novel, maybe less. I've started it twice but I keep putting it down once I no longer feel depressed.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
A novel that deals with selective mutism.

I Can Hear the Mourning Dove by James Bennett
A novel about a girl who copes with returning to her normal life after a suicide attempt.

Silent to the Bone by E.L. Konigsburg
A teenager tries to communicate with his friend who refuses to speak even though he's been locked up and accused of a crime.

Movies
Secret Cutting
This was a made-for-TV movie that aired on USA Network.

Girl, Interrupted
This movie can be very triggery. But for me, it also provided hope. I knew if Susanna Kaysen (Winona Ryder) could overcome her depression, I could too. Another bonus is that she finds healing through her writing. How appropriate for this website!

The Secret
The documentary based on the book. This film explains how to use the Law of Attraction to attract positive things into your life.

You Can Heal Your Life
This documentary is based on the book. Louise L. Hay tells her life story and explains how you can use affirmations and other methods to heal your life.