You can find hundreds of books, magazines and movies on mental health, mindfulness and self-help in our collection. Explore everything from gentle reads on meditation to more clinical titles relating to specific conditions. There are also many insightful memoirs written by authors who have lived through their own mental health challenges, you can find some of these in our Memoirs of Mental Illness booklist.
You can also speak to our library staff who can help you to select books to suit your own personal needs, search our catalogue for Subject: e.g. Anxiety, or find books using the following Dewey numbers in the non-fiction collection:
- Addiction: 362.29, 616.86
- Anxiety: 152.46, 158.1, 616.8522
- Bipolar: 616.895
- Depression: 616.8527
- Mental illness: 616.86
- Personality disorders: 616.85854
Mental health and mindfulness recommended reads
Don't just sit there, do nothing : healing, chilling, and living with the Tao Te Ching by Jessie Asya Kanzer
Life in L plates: mental wellness, one day at a time by Kayla Bauer
Recovery: freedom from our addictions* by Russell Brand
The happy brain: the science of where happiness comes from, and why by Dean Burnett
Portrait of an addict as a young man and Ninety days by Bill Clegg
Changing minds: the go-to-guide to mental health for family and friends by Mark Cross
Unparalleled sorrow: finding my way back from depression by Barry Dickins
Mental: everything you never knew you needed to know about mental health by Dr. Steve Ellen and Catherine Deveny
The brain that changes itself* by Norman Doidge
From hurt to hope: stories of mental health, mental illness and being autistic ed, Mair Elliot
Craft your own happy: a collection of 25 creative projects to craft your way to mindfulness by Becci Mai Ford
Back, after the break* by Osher Gunsberg
Notes on a nervous planet* by Matt Haig
Lost connections: uncovering the real causes in depression – and the unexpected solutions* by Johann Hari
The happiness trap: stop struggling, start living by Russ Harris
Rest + calm: gentle yoga and mindful practices to nurture and restore yourself by Paula Hines
Not waving, drowning: mental health and vulnerability in Australia by Sarah Krasnostein
Furiously funny: (a funny book about horrible things) by Jenny Lawson
Cleaning up your mental mess: 5 simple, scientifically proven steps to reduce anxiety, stress, and toxic thinking by Dr. Caroline Leaf
The neuroscientist who lost her mind: a memoir of madness and recovery by Barbara K Lipska
Dopesick: dealers, doctors and the drug company that addicted America by Beth Macy
Smiling mind: mindfulness made easy by Jane Martino and James Tutton
A beautiful mind* by Sylvia Nasar
Second innings: on men, mental health and cricket by Barry Nicholls
On edge: a journey through anxiety by Andrea Petersen
The sober diaries: how one woman stopped drinking and started living by Claire Pooley
The neuroscience of mindfulness by Stan Rodsk
Mental health in the vital city by Nikolas S. Rose
The man who mistook his wife for a hat* by Oliver Sacks
The anxiety healer’s guide by Alison Seponara
Beautiful boy: a father’s journey through his son’s meth addiction by David Sheff
The extraordinary gift of being ordinary: finding happiness right where you are by Dr. Ronald D. Siegel
The noonday demon: an anatomy of depression by Andrew Solomon
Happy never after: why the happiness fairytale is driving us mad by Jill Stark
My age of anxiety: fear, hope, dread and the search for peace of mind by Scott Stossel
Woman of substances: a journey into addiction and treatment by Jenny Valentish
First, we make the beast beautiful: a new story about anxiety by Sarah Wilson
Heal your inner wounds: how to transform deep emotional pain into freedom and joy by Abby Wynne
Mental health and mindfulness magazines on Libby by Overdrive
- Understanding mental health
- Wellbeing
- Thrive
- Spirituality and health
- Change your life
- Women’s health Australia
- Men’s health Australia
Mental health and mindfulness films on Kanopy
- Hidden pictures: the underexposed world of global mental health
- The media’s take on mental health
- Natural approaches to mental health
- Extreme anxiety – winning the battle
- My year of living mindfully
- Overcoming anxiety and depression
- The mindfulness movie
- Just like you: anxiety and depression
- Crazywise – rethinking madness: psychosis and spiritual
Mental health and mindfulness films on Beamafilm
Make a reservation
To reserve a book, select the title and use your membership number and PIN to make a reservation. Titles with an asterisk (*) are also available from our eBook collection.
More recommended reading
Want more reading suggestions? You can always speak to our library staff, who will help you find new authors based on your preferences. Come into the library or call us to find your next favourite read.
You can also visit our Booklists page for more reading recommendations, or our Book Groups page for everything you need for book groups.