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A Beginner's Guide to Being Mental: An A-Z
‘Am I normal?’
‘What’s an anxiety disorder?’
‘Does therapy work?’
‘How would I know if someone had an eating disorder?’
These are just a few of the questions Natasha Devon is asked as she travels the UK campaigning for better mental health awareness and provision. Here, Natasha calls upon experts in the fields of psychology, neuroscience and anthropology to debunk and demystify the full spectrum of mental health. From A (Anxiety) to Z (Zero F*cks – the art of high self-esteem) via everything from body image and gender to differentiating ‘sadness’ from ‘depression’.
Statistically, one in three of us will experience symptoms of a mental illness during our lifetimes. Yet all of us have a brain, and so we ALL have mental health – regardless of age, sexuality, race or background. The past few years have seen an explosion in awareness, yet it seems there is still widespread confusion. A Beginner's Guide to Being Mental is for anyone who wants to have this essential conversation, written as only Natasha, with her combination of expertise, personal experience and humour, knows how.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 29, 2018
30 people are currently reading
526 people want to read
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May 24, 2018
I think it goes without saying that a book about mental health is going to wind up with one of my famous (or is that infamous!) trigger warnings but as someone whose brain can get fairly trigger happy I didn’t have any problems while reading this one myself. However, having said that, I’m not you so please be aware and keep yourself safe if you are triggered while reading.
Trigger warnings include mental health (duh!), self-harm, suicide, addiction and grief.
This is one of the best books about mental health that I’ve read, and I’ve read plenty. What sets it apart is its author, Natasha Devon, who I’ll admit I’d never heard of prior to reading this book but now feels like someone I could be friends with. Natasha is upfront about her own experiences, writes in a down to earth conversational tone and is somehow able to simplify and explain difficult topics without dumbing them down. Natasha’s aim is to present “a comprehensive yet easy-to-understand overview” and she nails it!
While I’ve been there done that on the mental health merry-go-round personally and even picked up my own psychology degree from a Cornflakes box along the way I gained new insights, knowledge and understanding while reading this book. I often find books explaining mental health to be quite dry and one of my main whinges at university was the uncanny ability of some authors to transform fascinating topics into insomnia cures. I enjoyed reading this book so much though that I wanted to start reading it again as soon as I finished it, partly because I like ‘listening’ to Natasha talk about mental health and partly because I wanted to revisit all of my aha! moments.
I particularly admired Natasha’s ability to weave her own experiences and those of people she’s met along the way with facts (including references to make people like me happy) and insights gained through her work advocating for young people. It’s a balancing act that can result in some spectacular falls when authors incorporate their personal experiences in a book about mental health. Too often I’ve read books where it becomes either a dramatic sob story that takes your attention away from the helpful information that’s hidden somewhere amongst the tissues or a holier than thou ‘I have all the answers and although I’m better than you, I will impart some of my wisdom to you. Wow, don’t you resemble an ant as I look down my nose at you from the heights of my ivory tower’ attitude. Natasha did not fall off the tightrope once.
She was able to give enough information to let you know that she gets it, show empathy so you know that not only does she get it but she also gives a damn and does this amazing thing where she can talk to you about topics that are beyond difficult to live with but she leaves you with a feeling of hope. She speaks to, not at or down to, the reader and while she is direct and leaves no room for questions marks over her point of view (I intend those as compliments, not criticisms), she’s also sensitive, empathetic and funny. She comes across as someone that I would have been able to confide in as a young person and as an old(er) person I feel like she’s someone I’d want to chat with over a cuppa.
Oh, and before you get your politically correct knickers in a twist about the book’s title you should probably know that Natasha does explain the ‘mental’ thing but better than I could so here it is in her (ARC) words …
You should probably also know that the subjects aren’t always found under the letter of the alphabet that you’d expect. For example, self-harm lives in the J chapter, as in Just Attention Seeking, but trust me, your pitchforks are not required. This makes complete sense when you read the chapter. Take it from someone who has self-harmed; if pitchforks were required here I’d be handing them out personally but Natasha deals with this topic with the same amount of sensitivity, insight and wisdom as she does with the rest of the alphabet.
I want to ask where Natasha was when I was in high school, knowing I would have benefited greatly from anything she had to say but as I’m close to her in age and across the world that’s kind of a moot point. However I am greatly encouraged that there are Natashas in the world speaking to, and on behalf of, young people about mental health.
I do have a few comments about my personal experience in Australia versus what’s described in this book about the UK. I was gobsmacked that patients only get an average of 6 minutes for a GP appointment. It made me feel so lucky that my GP has 15 minute appointments as standard and 30 minute ones available if you have a list of a bazillion things to discuss or one tricky topic. I also feel even more appreciative that I have two of the most wonderful GP’s on the planet who understand mental health conditions and who consistently go way above and beyond when it comes to looking out for my best interests.
I was absolutely appalled to read about the usual waiting times for people in the UK to be able to access mental health services. Again, my appreciation level for my equally above and beyond awesome psychologist who I may sometimes refer to as Sunshine [insert their first name here] has skyrocketed, even though I didn’t think that was possible.
Okay, so maybe this isn’t as much a traditional book review as it is me telling you the feeling I get from the author but I wonder in this instance if that’s just as important. You can say all of the right things but no one is going to want to listen to you if you’re obnoxious or you have the facts right but can’t back it up with experience or at least some compassion.
What was refreshing in Natasha’s approach was her humour. I find, probably like most people, that a good dose of humour can make even the most difficult topics easier to deal with and this book was no exception. I particularly loved the cute little illustrations by Ruby Elliott that accompanied some of the chapters and only wish there were more of them.
I am struggling to tell you who I’d recommend this book for because ‘everyone’ seems like a cop out so I’ll just tell you some groups of people that came to mind as I was reading: young people, parents, teachers, anyone with a mental illness, anyone supporting anyone with a mental illness, anyone who works in a professional capacity with young people and/or those with mental illnesses, anyone who wants to be a better friend, government and/or political types who make decisions about how money for mental health is allocated, anyone who has influence in any form of media, and anyone who wants to be a better person in general. So, yeah, everyone!
While the chapters can be read in any order I’d highly recommend you read it straight through first. I highlighted so many passages but I am having trouble picking out a favourite because they’re all so damn good. Instead I’ll tell you my favourite word of the book: cheesed-off-ness. I came across it a week ago and it is still making me smile each time I think of it. I’m also quite partial to any book that includes any of the following: shysters, wodge, almighty s**t-show, f**kwittery, bogus, skew-whiff, raison d’être.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to discover this awesomeness. Natasha is definitely one of the good boxes. I know I’m going to get more out of it when the inevitable reread happens. I’m going to be recommending this book to my doctors and psychologist, along with random people who cross my path. I leave this book (temporarily - I know I’ll be back soon!) wanting to be a better person, advocate, listener and support person, and feeling hopeful and inspired.
Trigger warnings include mental health (duh!), self-harm, suicide, addiction and grief.
This is one of the best books about mental health that I’ve read, and I’ve read plenty. What sets it apart is its author, Natasha Devon, who I’ll admit I’d never heard of prior to reading this book but now feels like someone I could be friends with. Natasha is upfront about her own experiences, writes in a down to earth conversational tone and is somehow able to simplify and explain difficult topics without dumbing them down. Natasha’s aim is to present “a comprehensive yet easy-to-understand overview” and she nails it!
While I’ve been there done that on the mental health merry-go-round personally and even picked up my own psychology degree from a Cornflakes box along the way I gained new insights, knowledge and understanding while reading this book. I often find books explaining mental health to be quite dry and one of my main whinges at university was the uncanny ability of some authors to transform fascinating topics into insomnia cures. I enjoyed reading this book so much though that I wanted to start reading it again as soon as I finished it, partly because I like ‘listening’ to Natasha talk about mental health and partly because I wanted to revisit all of my aha! moments.
I particularly admired Natasha’s ability to weave her own experiences and those of people she’s met along the way with facts (including references to make people like me happy) and insights gained through her work advocating for young people. It’s a balancing act that can result in some spectacular falls when authors incorporate their personal experiences in a book about mental health. Too often I’ve read books where it becomes either a dramatic sob story that takes your attention away from the helpful information that’s hidden somewhere amongst the tissues or a holier than thou ‘I have all the answers and although I’m better than you, I will impart some of my wisdom to you. Wow, don’t you resemble an ant as I look down my nose at you from the heights of my ivory tower’ attitude. Natasha did not fall off the tightrope once.
She was able to give enough information to let you know that she gets it, show empathy so you know that not only does she get it but she also gives a damn and does this amazing thing where she can talk to you about topics that are beyond difficult to live with but she leaves you with a feeling of hope. She speaks to, not at or down to, the reader and while she is direct and leaves no room for questions marks over her point of view (I intend those as compliments, not criticisms), she’s also sensitive, empathetic and funny. She comes across as someone that I would have been able to confide in as a young person and as an old(er) person I feel like she’s someone I’d want to chat with over a cuppa.
Oh, and before you get your politically correct knickers in a twist about the book’s title you should probably know that Natasha does explain the ‘mental’ thing but better than I could so here it is in her (ARC) words …
“The most important thing to acknowledge before we begin is this: I am mental. I am mental according to the most common understanding of the term, in that I have a mental illness. I am also mental in the sense that I am an intellectual and emotional being, in possession of a brain. To have a mind is to be ‘mental’. And that, reader, means that you are mental, too.”
You should probably also know that the subjects aren’t always found under the letter of the alphabet that you’d expect. For example, self-harm lives in the J chapter, as in Just Attention Seeking, but trust me, your pitchforks are not required. This makes complete sense when you read the chapter. Take it from someone who has self-harmed; if pitchforks were required here I’d be handing them out personally but Natasha deals with this topic with the same amount of sensitivity, insight and wisdom as she does with the rest of the alphabet.
I want to ask where Natasha was when I was in high school, knowing I would have benefited greatly from anything she had to say but as I’m close to her in age and across the world that’s kind of a moot point. However I am greatly encouraged that there are Natashas in the world speaking to, and on behalf of, young people about mental health.
I do have a few comments about my personal experience in Australia versus what’s described in this book about the UK. I was gobsmacked that patients only get an average of 6 minutes for a GP appointment. It made me feel so lucky that my GP has 15 minute appointments as standard and 30 minute ones available if you have a list of a bazillion things to discuss or one tricky topic. I also feel even more appreciative that I have two of the most wonderful GP’s on the planet who understand mental health conditions and who consistently go way above and beyond when it comes to looking out for my best interests.
I was absolutely appalled to read about the usual waiting times for people in the UK to be able to access mental health services. Again, my appreciation level for my equally above and beyond awesome psychologist who I may sometimes refer to as Sunshine [insert their first name here] has skyrocketed, even though I didn’t think that was possible.
Okay, so maybe this isn’t as much a traditional book review as it is me telling you the feeling I get from the author but I wonder in this instance if that’s just as important. You can say all of the right things but no one is going to want to listen to you if you’re obnoxious or you have the facts right but can’t back it up with experience or at least some compassion.
What was refreshing in Natasha’s approach was her humour. I find, probably like most people, that a good dose of humour can make even the most difficult topics easier to deal with and this book was no exception. I particularly loved the cute little illustrations by Ruby Elliott that accompanied some of the chapters and only wish there were more of them.
I am struggling to tell you who I’d recommend this book for because ‘everyone’ seems like a cop out so I’ll just tell you some groups of people that came to mind as I was reading: young people, parents, teachers, anyone with a mental illness, anyone supporting anyone with a mental illness, anyone who works in a professional capacity with young people and/or those with mental illnesses, anyone who wants to be a better friend, government and/or political types who make decisions about how money for mental health is allocated, anyone who has influence in any form of media, and anyone who wants to be a better person in general. So, yeah, everyone!
While the chapters can be read in any order I’d highly recommend you read it straight through first. I highlighted so many passages but I am having trouble picking out a favourite because they’re all so damn good. Instead I’ll tell you my favourite word of the book: cheesed-off-ness. I came across it a week ago and it is still making me smile each time I think of it. I’m also quite partial to any book that includes any of the following: shysters, wodge, almighty s**t-show, f**kwittery, bogus, skew-whiff, raison d’être.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to discover this awesomeness. Natasha is definitely one of the good boxes. I know I’m going to get more out of it when the inevitable reread happens. I’m going to be recommending this book to my doctors and psychologist, along with random people who cross my path. I leave this book (temporarily - I know I’ll be back soon!) wanting to be a better person, advocate, listener and support person, and feeling hopeful and inspired.
August 16, 2020
I am not a 'beginner' when it comes to mental health but I wish that every person who is would read this.
I particularly loved the sections about Capitalism, Therapy, and Young People and I really appreciate the chapter on the LGBT+ community, who are often left out of the conversation about mental health, despite being disproportionately affected by mental health issues. I would really love Natasha to write books focusing on the 'Capitalism' and 'Queer' chapters because one of my only criticisms with this book was that I feel like it tried to include too many topics and so a lot of issues ended up being brushed over or dismissed (although I do realise that this is going to be the case with a book for beginners like this but with a topic like mental health I think it's even more important to strike a balance). I also would have loved the inclusion of essays from people who have experienced disorders that Natasha hasn't as I think that would have been an important addition when discussing topics that she has no first-hand experience with (although she did discuss them respectfully and was upfront about her lack of personal experience with those specific illnesses).
I cannot express how much I appreciated the chapter about Young People. I have always defended young people and I have never understood how people who (rightfully) get angry at generalizations, stereotypes, and prejudices about other groups of people but do the very same thing in reference to young people. As Natasha pointed out, young people don't have a blueprint of adult life and so any distress or mental illness that they may experience seems all the more all-consuming because they understandably think that this is what life will always feel like - they do not have anything else to compare their suffering to. I could go on and on about passages from this chapter but I won't because I want you to pick up this book yourself.
I particularly loved the sections about Capitalism, Therapy, and Young People and I really appreciate the chapter on the LGBT+ community, who are often left out of the conversation about mental health, despite being disproportionately affected by mental health issues. I would really love Natasha to write books focusing on the 'Capitalism' and 'Queer' chapters because one of my only criticisms with this book was that I feel like it tried to include too many topics and so a lot of issues ended up being brushed over or dismissed (although I do realise that this is going to be the case with a book for beginners like this but with a topic like mental health I think it's even more important to strike a balance). I also would have loved the inclusion of essays from people who have experienced disorders that Natasha hasn't as I think that would have been an important addition when discussing topics that she has no first-hand experience with (although she did discuss them respectfully and was upfront about her lack of personal experience with those specific illnesses).
I cannot express how much I appreciated the chapter about Young People. I have always defended young people and I have never understood how people who (rightfully) get angry at generalizations, stereotypes, and prejudices about other groups of people but do the very same thing in reference to young people. As Natasha pointed out, young people don't have a blueprint of adult life and so any distress or mental illness that they may experience seems all the more all-consuming because they understandably think that this is what life will always feel like - they do not have anything else to compare their suffering to. I could go on and on about passages from this chapter but I won't because I want you to pick up this book yourself.
April 16, 2018
Apparently, my reading habits suggest I should read "A Beginner's Guide to Being Mental"... I don't know what to make of that. Does my eclectic mix of sharks, murders, ancient maps, wizards, Scandinavians, engineering guides, historical parodies, and who knows what else suggest I'm a little bit eccentric? Or does it say I'm so normal I'm positively boring and therefore trying to pretend I'm a little bit bonkers in the style of a zany children's TV presenter to make myself more interesting? I have no idea, but the very fact that I started to ponder why I got the recommendation suggests maybe I need to skip to Z in this alphabetical guide and learn about giving zero fucks.
However, this book really should be required reading for everyone irrespective of their own mental health. If anything, I'd say this book is strongest with regard to interacting with other people's mental health. Devon's use of humour is powerful in making a vast and difficult subject accessible without being patronising. Even if you know the area she's discussing it's engaging, so while you may not come away with much additional knowledge you can still follow along and appreciate the writing. If you don't know the topic, you'll get enough info to get by and a starting point to deep dive on things if you really need to know more.
The book is laid out in an A-Z format which may reach a little to give each letter a topic of decent, balanced, coverage but, unlike so many A-Z guides, doesn't strain painfully to run through the final letters of the alphabet and desperate pad a word definition into a paragraph to try and finish the structure. This is an A-Z that reads really well and flows. I'm not a huge fan of the cross-referencing because in truth this is a book to read cover to cover, Sure, for various reasons you may want to jump in at various points, I know there are a few chapters I plan to re-read so I'll be doing exactly that, but for the first read I'd recommend taking it all in. It's a pretty light and breezy book and impressively easy reading given the amount of coverage it offers.
And the coverage of this book is truly where it shines. I mean, I like to think I'm pretty clued up on mental health issues but I came away feeling a lot smarter thanks to this book. What appealed to me most was that Devon remains enjoyably open-minded and non-judgemental. The section on mindfulness is a great example. In short, she takes a rational middle ground between those who think any kind of self-care is new age twaddle and those who think 5 minutes of meditation a day is like a magic spell that solves everything and anything. True, I may just like reading someone taking a similar view as myself, but I really do think so many of these discussions get lost in people taking extreme binary views on a subject.
But, whilst I may feel good about someone telling me I'm right to think that I should take a few minutes to myself if it makes the day pass more easily I'll go back to my earlier point that this book truly excels in how we interact with other people. I realised at various points that I do tend to have some bad habits when interacting with others. Or more accurately, I rely too easily on a one-size-fits-all logic when clearly that is not the reality. Worse, it goes completely against my general rallying cry that we're all different. So yeah, I'm feeling a bit dumb about that.
I'd also say that if anyone only has time to read one chapter in this book they should head straight for U, which is for Unjudgmental Listening. You know when you've thought you were good at something an then find out you've got a lot to learn? Yeah... that's this chapter for me. I frequently get told I'm a good listener, it's my thing, I'm the listening one. I came to this chapter expecting to just nod along wisely, and smugly. And the more I read the more I realised I can seriously upgrade my listening skills! Or more accurately, I can upgrade my communication skills. I can be happy my current skillset generally works, but I realise with a bit of effort I can do better. Also, this chapter made me want a Duck Chair - which means nothing until you read the chapter, but you should. Every household should have a Duck Chair. Even if you live alone and never have company over, get a Duck Chair and enjoy. It really is a wonderful thing.
All in all, read this book! The very title alone should tell you that mental health doesn't need to be boring, that you can laugh about things (in the right way at least), and this isn't just a sluggish academic study wrapped in a glossy cover to try and book a slot on Good Morning Britain or something. This is a genuinely informative book regarding mental health and it's presented in a wonderful format. Mental health should be a more open topic, and this book is a wonderful conversation starter. it doesn't matter if you or someone you care for are dealing with mental illness, or if you want to read up and realise you're far more normal than you feel some days, this is the book for you. Get reading!
However, this book really should be required reading for everyone irrespective of their own mental health. If anything, I'd say this book is strongest with regard to interacting with other people's mental health. Devon's use of humour is powerful in making a vast and difficult subject accessible without being patronising. Even if you know the area she's discussing it's engaging, so while you may not come away with much additional knowledge you can still follow along and appreciate the writing. If you don't know the topic, you'll get enough info to get by and a starting point to deep dive on things if you really need to know more.
The book is laid out in an A-Z format which may reach a little to give each letter a topic of decent, balanced, coverage but, unlike so many A-Z guides, doesn't strain painfully to run through the final letters of the alphabet and desperate pad a word definition into a paragraph to try and finish the structure. This is an A-Z that reads really well and flows. I'm not a huge fan of the cross-referencing because in truth this is a book to read cover to cover, Sure, for various reasons you may want to jump in at various points, I know there are a few chapters I plan to re-read so I'll be doing exactly that, but for the first read I'd recommend taking it all in. It's a pretty light and breezy book and impressively easy reading given the amount of coverage it offers.
And the coverage of this book is truly where it shines. I mean, I like to think I'm pretty clued up on mental health issues but I came away feeling a lot smarter thanks to this book. What appealed to me most was that Devon remains enjoyably open-minded and non-judgemental. The section on mindfulness is a great example. In short, she takes a rational middle ground between those who think any kind of self-care is new age twaddle and those who think 5 minutes of meditation a day is like a magic spell that solves everything and anything. True, I may just like reading someone taking a similar view as myself, but I really do think so many of these discussions get lost in people taking extreme binary views on a subject.
But, whilst I may feel good about someone telling me I'm right to think that I should take a few minutes to myself if it makes the day pass more easily I'll go back to my earlier point that this book truly excels in how we interact with other people. I realised at various points that I do tend to have some bad habits when interacting with others. Or more accurately, I rely too easily on a one-size-fits-all logic when clearly that is not the reality. Worse, it goes completely against my general rallying cry that we're all different. So yeah, I'm feeling a bit dumb about that.
I'd also say that if anyone only has time to read one chapter in this book they should head straight for U, which is for Unjudgmental Listening. You know when you've thought you were good at something an then find out you've got a lot to learn? Yeah... that's this chapter for me. I frequently get told I'm a good listener, it's my thing, I'm the listening one. I came to this chapter expecting to just nod along wisely, and smugly. And the more I read the more I realised I can seriously upgrade my listening skills! Or more accurately, I can upgrade my communication skills. I can be happy my current skillset generally works, but I realise with a bit of effort I can do better. Also, this chapter made me want a Duck Chair - which means nothing until you read the chapter, but you should. Every household should have a Duck Chair. Even if you live alone and never have company over, get a Duck Chair and enjoy. It really is a wonderful thing.
All in all, read this book! The very title alone should tell you that mental health doesn't need to be boring, that you can laugh about things (in the right way at least), and this isn't just a sluggish academic study wrapped in a glossy cover to try and book a slot on Good Morning Britain or something. This is a genuinely informative book regarding mental health and it's presented in a wonderful format. Mental health should be a more open topic, and this book is a wonderful conversation starter. it doesn't matter if you or someone you care for are dealing with mental illness, or if you want to read up and realise you're far more normal than you feel some days, this is the book for you. Get reading!
June 27, 2018
Thank you to the publishers for providing an ARC of this book through NetGalley.
DNF at 24%.
Most of the information about mental and physical health in this book was pretty good, but I didn’t particularly like how the author interjected with their own life story, which I found distracting from the actual book.
DNF at 24%.
Most of the information about mental and physical health in this book was pretty good, but I didn’t particularly like how the author interjected with their own life story, which I found distracting from the actual book.
July 16, 2021
I was lucky enough to attend an online lecture by Natasha Devon as part of my PGCE training and before the lecture had even finished, I had ordered her non-fiction book on mental health.
I put it off for a while, mostly because my own mental health has been a bit wobbly, but I read it this week and completely adored it.
Devon has a direct, factual and no nonsense style that works so well for this subject. She also talks about her own experiences and manages to inject a sense of humour in just the right places.
This is one that I will be encouraging everyone to read as it’s a fantastic guide for both beginners to mental health and those of us who have been dealing with various aspects of it for years.
I put it off for a while, mostly because my own mental health has been a bit wobbly, but I read it this week and completely adored it.
Devon has a direct, factual and no nonsense style that works so well for this subject. She also talks about her own experiences and manages to inject a sense of humour in just the right places.
This is one that I will be encouraging everyone to read as it’s a fantastic guide for both beginners to mental health and those of us who have been dealing with various aspects of it for years.
March 16, 2019
I really liked this book and I found it very helpful. It put a lot of things in perspective and had a great mix of science and humour that I connected with. I’m glad I read it and I think it’s helped not only my only mental health struggles but to understand the wider suffering. I thoroughly recommend this book.
August 23, 2018
Loved, loved, loved this book so much! A must read for anyone & everyone. As pointed out everyone has a mental health just as they have a physical health and this book covers a whole range of talking topics around mental health. It is a serious topic which has been highlighted and promoted in the media/ social media in recent years, yet Natasha’s style and tone is light hearted and humorous at times, which makes it extremely enjoyable. As a teacher and a person with a mental health this book really is thought provoking, I have learnt things and will alter some of my actions and behaviour based on the insights I now have from such an experienced and intellectual woman! Thank you so much for writing this book!
May 10, 2020
ahhhh dissapointing.
January 7, 2019
This book is definitely funny! It covers a lot of issues in the world that people don’t really notice happen, but they might just hurt someone or themselves. This is a great guide for not only beginners and will still teach you a lot! I met the writer, she has a lot of character and she brings the book to life and makes me happy! I read this book in a week, and if you are looking for a page turner, and to do with our day to day basis (mental health) this book is for you!
October 20, 2018
A very witty guide to mental health issues.
June 28, 2020
An honest and factual reference of mental health and mental health conditions from a professional who has a great deal of personal experience and is willing to be honest about it, whilst also explaining them in a simple and easy to understand way. Books about mental health can often be insightful, but ultimately very dry and boring, a hard slog. Natasha Devon has managed to explain mental health in an engaging and conversational way that's easy to read, understand and digest.
It also has an honest appraisal of mental health services in the UK, which I think we all home will improve.
There are some hard hitting subjects covered in this book, including things like addiction, grief, self-harm and suicide, each one dealt with sensitivity and insight.
This isn't a self-help book, but a reference book, aimed to educate and help you understand yourself and others and to apply empathy and enhanced knowledge to any situation that involves mental health. Even so, I wish I'd had this book as a teenager and would honestly recommend it to anyone who wants to take a deeper look at mental health, for whatever reason. It opens up the conversation about mental health and that in itself is an amazing thing.
It also has an honest appraisal of mental health services in the UK, which I think we all home will improve.
There are some hard hitting subjects covered in this book, including things like addiction, grief, self-harm and suicide, each one dealt with sensitivity and insight.
This isn't a self-help book, but a reference book, aimed to educate and help you understand yourself and others and to apply empathy and enhanced knowledge to any situation that involves mental health. Even so, I wish I'd had this book as a teenager and would honestly recommend it to anyone who wants to take a deeper look at mental health, for whatever reason. It opens up the conversation about mental health and that in itself is an amazing thing.
August 9, 2021
The best book I have EVER read about mental health.
May 3, 2018
I received A Beginner's Guide to Being Mental from Pan Macmillan in exchange for an honest review.
I suspect many people like myself, who have had to confront mental health issues at some stage in our lives, will recognise the way in which tackling our problems can force us to develop a broader understanding of how human thoughts, feelings, physical needs and interpersonal relationships function, and what it means when things go wrong. A Beginner’s Guide to Being Mental takes that basic package of insight, adds a ton of expertise from author Natasha Devon’s career as a mental health educator, mixes in additional knowledge from mental health professionals and people with lived experience, and packages it into a concise, accessible read. The result, while not a traditional self-help tool (or, obviously, a substitute for medical support), is an invaluable collection of wisdom and demystification on a subject where straightforward information can still be hard to come by.
As one should expect from the title, A Beginner’s Guide to Being Mental organises its material in an A to Z format, with one topic per letter. This is a cute tactic, although it leads to a couple of contrived chapter names, including the very unfortunate choice to name the self-harm chapter “Just Attention Seeking” and cross reference it using this stereotyped phrase in several other chapters. While the J chapter itself addresses the misconceptions of this phrase straight away, I still found it uncomfortable to have it peppered throughout the book, especially when so much care seems to have been taken elsewhere to avoid unnecessarily harmful language and content.
Devon covers a lot of ground within her twenty-six chapters, addressing common illnesses and symptoms, the influence of external factors like youth and gender, and the kinds of treatment available (including both medical services like drugs and therapy as well as different forms of self-care). She also covers some UK specific ground about accessing mental health services, and is open about the inadequacies and gaps in the current NHS system, and her experiences as a government advisor on mental health. I apparently missed all coverage of her eleven months in the post while I was abroad, but this might not be news to everyone – and it probably won’t be news to most of my readers that the Conservative government were less than excellent about using Devon’s considerable expertise to genuinely improve the system.
One side effect of the A to Z format is that it frontloads Devon’s personal experiences with mental illness (anxiety and eating disorders), strengthening the feeling that this book is from someone who “gets it” from multiple angles. The chatty, informal style also helps, and makes this a readable and at times very funny book. At the same time, A Beginner’s Guide to Being Mental feels carefully written (“J” chapter name aside) and it’s clear that a lot of thought has gone into the content. Personal experiences are recounted where it may overcome taboo or help a reader to feel less alone, but the text avoids anecdotes that could be voyeuristic or, in the case of self-harm behaviours and eating disorders, contribute to “competitiveness” among those who struggle with these conditions. There is one section in an early chapter with some unpleasant medical details, and potentially triggering content about Devon’s experiences with bulimia, which is given a clear content warning; otherwise, this book should be accessible to anyone not in a state of immediate crisis.
To further sweeten the deal, A Beginner’s Guide to Being Mental is illustrated by Rubyetc, who I believe is literally the most relateable artist ever (certainly the most relateable artist on my Twitter feed in 2018). I am strongly considering buying a physical copy of this book when it is released on the strength of the illustrations alone – and, of course, because I think this is a very important and timely book that I would like to be able to pass on to other people in my life.
I suspect many people like myself, who have had to confront mental health issues at some stage in our lives, will recognise the way in which tackling our problems can force us to develop a broader understanding of how human thoughts, feelings, physical needs and interpersonal relationships function, and what it means when things go wrong. A Beginner’s Guide to Being Mental takes that basic package of insight, adds a ton of expertise from author Natasha Devon’s career as a mental health educator, mixes in additional knowledge from mental health professionals and people with lived experience, and packages it into a concise, accessible read. The result, while not a traditional self-help tool (or, obviously, a substitute for medical support), is an invaluable collection of wisdom and demystification on a subject where straightforward information can still be hard to come by.
As one should expect from the title, A Beginner’s Guide to Being Mental organises its material in an A to Z format, with one topic per letter. This is a cute tactic, although it leads to a couple of contrived chapter names, including the very unfortunate choice to name the self-harm chapter “Just Attention Seeking” and cross reference it using this stereotyped phrase in several other chapters. While the J chapter itself addresses the misconceptions of this phrase straight away, I still found it uncomfortable to have it peppered throughout the book, especially when so much care seems to have been taken elsewhere to avoid unnecessarily harmful language and content.
Devon covers a lot of ground within her twenty-six chapters, addressing common illnesses and symptoms, the influence of external factors like youth and gender, and the kinds of treatment available (including both medical services like drugs and therapy as well as different forms of self-care). She also covers some UK specific ground about accessing mental health services, and is open about the inadequacies and gaps in the current NHS system, and her experiences as a government advisor on mental health. I apparently missed all coverage of her eleven months in the post while I was abroad, but this might not be news to everyone – and it probably won’t be news to most of my readers that the Conservative government were less than excellent about using Devon’s considerable expertise to genuinely improve the system.
One side effect of the A to Z format is that it frontloads Devon’s personal experiences with mental illness (anxiety and eating disorders), strengthening the feeling that this book is from someone who “gets it” from multiple angles. The chatty, informal style also helps, and makes this a readable and at times very funny book. At the same time, A Beginner’s Guide to Being Mental feels carefully written (“J” chapter name aside) and it’s clear that a lot of thought has gone into the content. Personal experiences are recounted where it may overcome taboo or help a reader to feel less alone, but the text avoids anecdotes that could be voyeuristic or, in the case of self-harm behaviours and eating disorders, contribute to “competitiveness” among those who struggle with these conditions. There is one section in an early chapter with some unpleasant medical details, and potentially triggering content about Devon’s experiences with bulimia, which is given a clear content warning; otherwise, this book should be accessible to anyone not in a state of immediate crisis.
To further sweeten the deal, A Beginner’s Guide to Being Mental is illustrated by Rubyetc, who I believe is literally the most relateable artist ever (certainly the most relateable artist on my Twitter feed in 2018). I am strongly considering buying a physical copy of this book when it is released on the strength of the illustrations alone – and, of course, because I think this is a very important and timely book that I would like to be able to pass on to other people in my life.
August 21, 2021
I really liked this read and found it a useful look into how mental illness affects people and how it affected her and how she wants people to regard their mental health as important. She has had her own issues and some of the treatment worked. The alphabetical chapter headings is a bit of a gimmick but it's as good a way to organise the information as any other.
The last paragraph of the book reads "If you've ever asked yourself the question ' is it just me who is going mad?' or looked around and thought 'there must be a better way', I wrote this book for you." and that does encapsulate the book quite well. There are a few other paragraphs that really struck me while reading the book.
p. 2 under a list of feelings/experiences that require too many words to convey.
* The slight discomfort of having an entire Sunday stretched out ahead with no fixed plans, knowing that you ought to make the most of it before work on Monday and experiencing a niggling guilt at all the productive ways you could spend the time in the face of an overwhelming desire to sit on your arse and devour an entire series on Netflix whilst eating items of little or no nutritional value."
and
* "The dual sensation of being desperate to know what happens next yet not wanting to finish a book because you're enjoying it too much."
Oh yeah, I feel seen by those concepts. This book felt like an older relative who sits you down to impart information to you so that you can have a better life and less road-bumps. She's practical enough that she doesn't believe that they will be removed, just fewer of them and possibly signposts so you might notice them.and take steps to ensure that they don't destroy your life.
There were another few nuggets that really spoke to me.
p.237 (technically about being young but it's pretty much for all ages) "Remember that no one knows what they're doing. Everyone is walking around thinking 'Argh! I don't have a clue! Why am I in charge of this thing? How am I allowed to have responsibilities?' The process of becoming an adult is simply the means by which we become more adept at hiding this. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you're the only one who hasn't figured everything out. No one has."
p 238 one of the most clever comments is "Never be sworn to secrecy by a friend who is telling your about their mental illness. It is not your burden to carry, it is not your problem to fix, and if they are a danger to themselves (for example if they are suicidal) it is not a betrayal to tell someone.
These are things that just seem to work well in the book and make it one that I would recommend almost everyone should read. I have no idea what prompted me to borrow it but they were right, it's a book to read.
The last paragraph of the book reads "If you've ever asked yourself the question ' is it just me who is going mad?' or looked around and thought 'there must be a better way', I wrote this book for you." and that does encapsulate the book quite well. There are a few other paragraphs that really struck me while reading the book.
p. 2 under a list of feelings/experiences that require too many words to convey.
* The slight discomfort of having an entire Sunday stretched out ahead with no fixed plans, knowing that you ought to make the most of it before work on Monday and experiencing a niggling guilt at all the productive ways you could spend the time in the face of an overwhelming desire to sit on your arse and devour an entire series on Netflix whilst eating items of little or no nutritional value."
and
* "The dual sensation of being desperate to know what happens next yet not wanting to finish a book because you're enjoying it too much."
Oh yeah, I feel seen by those concepts. This book felt like an older relative who sits you down to impart information to you so that you can have a better life and less road-bumps. She's practical enough that she doesn't believe that they will be removed, just fewer of them and possibly signposts so you might notice them.and take steps to ensure that they don't destroy your life.
There were another few nuggets that really spoke to me.
p.237 (technically about being young but it's pretty much for all ages) "Remember that no one knows what they're doing. Everyone is walking around thinking 'Argh! I don't have a clue! Why am I in charge of this thing? How am I allowed to have responsibilities?' The process of becoming an adult is simply the means by which we become more adept at hiding this. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you're the only one who hasn't figured everything out. No one has."
p 238 one of the most clever comments is "Never be sworn to secrecy by a friend who is telling your about their mental illness. It is not your burden to carry, it is not your problem to fix, and if they are a danger to themselves (for example if they are suicidal) it is not a betrayal to tell someone.
These are things that just seem to work well in the book and make it one that I would recommend almost everyone should read. I have no idea what prompted me to borrow it but they were right, it's a book to read.
January 1, 2023
I really don’t know what took me so long to read this, should have read it years ago. A great book about Mental Health with interesting insight, facts, honesty and humour.. Super easy to read but obviously take on board trigger warnings, as it openly discusses all aspects of mental health in depth (including addiction and eating disorders).
I really liked Natasha Devon’s direct, honest and factual approach using her own personal experiences, alongside those of other people. She also manages to incorporate humour tastefully in just the right places.
A Beginner’s Guide to Being Mental is a really good guide for beginners to mental health and mental illnesses and those who are more experienced in the field. I’ve worked in education for 15+ years - and am now a Head of Sixth Form - and I learnt a lot from this book.
The chapters on Young People, LGBT+, Therapy and X: Chromosomes were the most useful and insightful chapters for me as they were particularly relevant for work. I appreciated the explanation of various terminology and general understanding of different mental illnesses. I also took on board some tips on how to talk to students about their mental health, particularly boys/those further along the masculine end of the spectrum. I also took away some interesting tips regarding ‘non-judgemental listening’ and questions to ask in certain situations, in order to better support young people (and potentially colleagues!).
I will be recommending this book to our CPD library - I think it is a great guide for teachers and those working in education.
AD/PR - I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really liked Natasha Devon’s direct, honest and factual approach using her own personal experiences, alongside those of other people. She also manages to incorporate humour tastefully in just the right places.
A Beginner’s Guide to Being Mental is a really good guide for beginners to mental health and mental illnesses and those who are more experienced in the field. I’ve worked in education for 15+ years - and am now a Head of Sixth Form - and I learnt a lot from this book.
The chapters on Young People, LGBT+, Therapy and X: Chromosomes were the most useful and insightful chapters for me as they were particularly relevant for work. I appreciated the explanation of various terminology and general understanding of different mental illnesses. I also took on board some tips on how to talk to students about their mental health, particularly boys/those further along the masculine end of the spectrum. I also took away some interesting tips regarding ‘non-judgemental listening’ and questions to ask in certain situations, in order to better support young people (and potentially colleagues!).
I will be recommending this book to our CPD library - I think it is a great guide for teachers and those working in education.
AD/PR - I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 6, 2018
I received A Beginner's Guide to Being Mental from Pan Macmillan @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is so informative and written in a way that means the reader can either read it from cover to cover or pick it up and glance at bite size sections.
An A- Z guide of Mental Health and Wellbeing is a must read, for help, for understanding, for reference. Written from the perspective of a person that has suffered mental Health issues in the past and still is aware of living with it Natasha Devon gives advice and generally just says its OK to feel like this. The book is also helpful for people who want to help someone they know is suffering or helpful advice for future reference.
I particularly liked the A-Z Index at the back. Not only a quick reference guide to the name of the chapter but also helpful website details or articles that were referenced to read.
This book is a must for all public areas and I will definitely hold a copy in my school library.
This book is so informative and written in a way that means the reader can either read it from cover to cover or pick it up and glance at bite size sections.
An A- Z guide of Mental Health and Wellbeing is a must read, for help, for understanding, for reference. Written from the perspective of a person that has suffered mental Health issues in the past and still is aware of living with it Natasha Devon gives advice and generally just says its OK to feel like this. The book is also helpful for people who want to help someone they know is suffering or helpful advice for future reference.
I particularly liked the A-Z Index at the back. Not only a quick reference guide to the name of the chapter but also helpful website details or articles that were referenced to read.
This book is a must for all public areas and I will definitely hold a copy in my school library.
May 13, 2018
A beginner’s guide to being mental an A-Z a four-star read that will make you think. I picked this book up not knowing what to expect, I am glad I did as it was a great read, the set up was well plotted and it gave you a glimpse into the world of mental health without getting you so deep that you can’t get back out of the rabbit hole. The lay out of the book was very clear and easy to go back to if something stuck in your head, it also has great references and guides to go to for more information. This is one of those books that I will be asking my local libraries to pick up as it’s a great guide, its got the information you need but it also has some light-hearted ness thrown in, I know you shouldn’t take menta health with a light heart as it’s a serious subject, but this makes the subject much more plateable and manageable breaking things down to layman’s terms. If you have mental health problems or you know someone with mental health problems, then you will find something in this book to help you.
June 21, 2018
A Beginner's Guide to Being Mental is an A- Z guide to Mental Health. It can be used as a quick reference guide as well as a great introduction to mental health in general.
Devon's writing is to the point - the author honestly says it as it is, no sugar coating and no beating around the bush. Something I really appreciated. Devon is also someone who is familiar with mental health issues and shares a lot of personal stories because of that. Again, something that really resonated with me and that I enjoyed. I personally think that raising awareness around mental health is extremely important and I honestly applaud Devon for doing so.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is relatively new to mental health and who would like to find out more. I think everyone will find heaps of information as well as additional useful resources such as relevant website info under each letter.
I would like to thanks Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for providing me a copy with this book in exchange for an honest review.
Devon's writing is to the point - the author honestly says it as it is, no sugar coating and no beating around the bush. Something I really appreciated. Devon is also someone who is familiar with mental health issues and shares a lot of personal stories because of that. Again, something that really resonated with me and that I enjoyed. I personally think that raising awareness around mental health is extremely important and I honestly applaud Devon for doing so.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is relatively new to mental health and who would like to find out more. I think everyone will find heaps of information as well as additional useful resources such as relevant website info under each letter.
I would like to thanks Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for providing me a copy with this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 6, 2020
Satisfied with the book in general. It gave me a little of the useful information I wanted. Quite often, it appeared that the intent was to brag about being on TV, or having done stuff with some corrupt politicians. Seemed a bit distracting from the topic, but fit in with the idea of self-confidence issues that was mentioned.
If you have a partner or friend that has a mental condition, or is just different to you, you could probably use it. Few of the areas are interesting.
Some comic aspects were mentioned. Naivety or privilege, who knows.
Finally, a good way for non-experts to realize the frauds that are shown as experts, and how we can use information and spin it in any way needed.
If you have a partner or friend that has a mental condition, or is just different to you, you could probably use it. Few of the areas are interesting.
Some comic aspects were mentioned. Naivety or privilege, who knows.
Finally, a good way for non-experts to realize the frauds that are shown as experts, and how we can use information and spin it in any way needed.
May 8, 2018
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book covers Mental Health issues and divides up the topics A-Z. I enjoyed this format as it broke the subject up and made it easier to read. This format also means that it is easy to dip in and out of the book or skip sections which might be triggering or simply of no interest or relevance. I also enjoyed the cartoons scattered throughout the book. There is a lot of useful information contained within the book but there was just something about the authors voice that I didn’t like which spoilt the book for me.
February 15, 2019
Really interesting insight. Despite other reviews, I actually enjoyed Natasha Devon including her own personal story at times. (I love Devon even more knowing that she’s a big Bowie fan!!). The only issue I had with this book was that I wanted even more info! I appreciate that would mean this book would be even more of a tome haha. But I felt that some subjects were just touched on, and I wanted more!! The format of A-Z was a brilliant way of going through many different aspects of mental health.
May 11, 2021
I really liked this when I started. Life happened and came back to it and read it in a few days. I’m not sure who it’s for, but enjoyed reading it, even though there weren’t any great revelations for me. The strength lies in Natasha Devon’s story, I would 100% want to read about her life. Her personal anecdotes made this book special.
I bought it because guilty feminist told me to and have no regrets.
My favourite quote, was from Jane Austen:
‘For what do we live if not to make sport for our neighbours and laugh at them, in our turn?’
I also need a duck chair.
I bought it because guilty feminist told me to and have no regrets.
My favourite quote, was from Jane Austen:
‘For what do we live if not to make sport for our neighbours and laugh at them, in our turn?’
I also need a duck chair.
August 10, 2024
There was so much good information in this book and I took lots from it, but I feel like it has dated quite a lot in the 6 years since it was written. There was no real mention of being neurodivergent and the link this has with mental health.
Although I can see that Devon had worked hard to maintain a neutral position on many things, there were a couple of occasions where I feel that advice-giving danced a little too close to lecturing. I appreciate that it is so difficult to write a book like this without such a thing happening but it did mean that some of the messages jarred a little.
This was also written pre pandemic so although many of the issues that stemmed from it were already present and mentioned,there was little about things like the impact of loneliness on mental health. To put it more simply, when reading this one must remember that the political and social landscape was different (in some ways subtly, in some ways hugely) when it was written. This is the first time I have noticed this.
Having said that, I did learn lots and do think there is a place for this on everyone’s bookshelf.
Although I can see that Devon had worked hard to maintain a neutral position on many things, there were a couple of occasions where I feel that advice-giving danced a little too close to lecturing. I appreciate that it is so difficult to write a book like this without such a thing happening but it did mean that some of the messages jarred a little.
This was also written pre pandemic so although many of the issues that stemmed from it were already present and mentioned,there was little about things like the impact of loneliness on mental health. To put it more simply, when reading this one must remember that the political and social landscape was different (in some ways subtly, in some ways hugely) when it was written. This is the first time I have noticed this.
Having said that, I did learn lots and do think there is a place for this on everyone’s bookshelf.
May 19, 2018
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
This was an interesting read which I drew out over a few weeks as it’s in depth. It wasn’t tedious at all and very open and honest and I’m sure plenty of readers will identify with aspects of the chapters and say ‘yes that’s me!’
Brilliantly written and plenty that can apply to colleagues and friends who suffer with anxiety and other ‘hidden’ issues.
This was an interesting read which I drew out over a few weeks as it’s in depth. It wasn’t tedious at all and very open and honest and I’m sure plenty of readers will identify with aspects of the chapters and say ‘yes that’s me!’
Brilliantly written and plenty that can apply to colleagues and friends who suffer with anxiety and other ‘hidden’ issues.
July 30, 2018
Brilliant book which gives an insight into the mind.
If you or anyone you’re close to has ever suffered with mental health problems, read this book.
It gives ideas on how some things in your mind work and also dispels some illusions about treatment available.
Although this covers a very difficult subject I found it very funny in some areas. The author puts things brilliantly and kept my interest throughout.
I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone.
If you or anyone you’re close to has ever suffered with mental health problems, read this book.
It gives ideas on how some things in your mind work and also dispels some illusions about treatment available.
Although this covers a very difficult subject I found it very funny in some areas. The author puts things brilliantly and kept my interest throughout.
I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone.
June 3, 2019
Disappointed it is more one person's experience of Mental Health (fine enough but wasn't what I'd expected) rather than a General Self Help Guide. The 'Zero F**ks Given' part was too short given that was what made this book stand out from others on the subject. I abandoned this book largely unread I'm sorry to say.
March 7, 2020
A literal A-Z guide on concepts relating to mental health where the author draws on her own experiences. Easy to read and easy to understand book, however, maybe because I have been reading about mental health a lot, this book did not jump at me. I did not learn anything new and found some chapters a tad boring.
September 7, 2018
This book was so insightful. Natasha writes about such important issues that all of us should understand. If you suffer from mental health issues or known someone who does or even if you have no experience read this book. It teaches you how to look after yourself and how you can support others.
October 25, 2019
Informative yet does not read like a text book. I got this on audible and as with most non fiction I struggled a bit the last few chapters as it gets a bit monotonous and repetitive but still I'd recommend to anyone interested in widening there horizon on mental health.
Read
October 2, 2020didn't finish this book.
Apparently I misunderstood the title, because I thought there would be some humor. There isn't.
Also, the writer has a lot of opinions and takes her time for those. And the writing or wording of the personal parts were a bit cliché.
Not for me.
Apparently I misunderstood the title, because I thought there would be some humor. There isn't.
Also, the writer has a lot of opinions and takes her time for those. And the writing or wording of the personal parts were a bit cliché.
Not for me.
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