SLJ Reviews Gale’s Empowering Teen Mental Fitness Ebook Series

Gale offers comprehensive guides to mental health for teens. This three-book series tackles a range of mental health challenges.

URL www.gale.com/schools/teen-mental-fitness-presale

Grade Level Gr 6 and Up

Cost $115 per ebook

Overview Gale offers comprehensive guides to mental health for teens. This three-book series tackles a range of mental health challenges in a direct and empowering way. Readers are provided with an overview of conditions, definitions, symptoms, examples for treatment, and practical tips for better mental health. Each volume features four brief chapters presented in clear and visually appealing layouts. QR codes, sidebars, and outreach opportunities offer dynamic interactivity for teens. In addition to a comprehensive index, each book comes with a “Please Read—Important Information” page to remind teens that what is presented is supplemental in nature and not intended to replace medical diagnosis or treatment. This series serves as a resource for self-care, not a diagnostic tool. Readers are reminded that best practices and treatment options are constantly changing. The authors do not endorse a particular strategy or tool but rather seek to offer an array of self-care options and ideas. In consultation with licensed social workers and school counselors, the authors address growing concerns for the mental health of young people and encourage those who are struggling to seek help.

Content A Guide for Managing Anxiety, Depression, Stress, and Suicide offers statistics for the growing number of children and teens diagnosed with stress and anxiety disorders. Also included in each chapter are captioned photographs highlighting celebrities who have publicly shared their struggles. Presented with great care, the disorders are not glamorized. An encouraging, hopeful tone is used while focusing on facts. Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande are featured in discussions about stress and anxiety. Their celebrity status paired with their honest and open experiences may lessen any stigma surrounding the disorders.

A Guide for Managing ADHD/ADD, Bullying, PTSD, and Social Media features Simone Biles and Taylor Swift. Descriptions of their disorders include how they used their circumstances to their best advantage. Also included in each chapter are lists of related media: books, movies, and music, that will be very appealing and relevant to teens. Each chapter features journaling prompts with thoughtful reminders for self-care. The questions and suggestions are empowering tips for all teens, whether or not they have been diagnosed with a disorder.

Daniel Radcliffe and Demi Lovato are highlighted in Empowering Teen Mental Fitness: A Guide for Managing Addiction, Eating Disorders, OCD, and Trauma. In their struggles with behavioral health disorders, they each emphasize the importance of therapy and medication. The authors use their experiences to encourage anyone struggling with addiction or trauma to seek help. A theme constant throughout the series is that seeking help carries no shame and is key to successful treatment and management of symptoms. Featured celebrity Lady Gaga describes the value of ongoing treatment or, in her words, “reboots.” As with other chapters, recommended breathing exercises and QR code links to various yoga poses are included as practical self-care ideas.

Student Ease of Use/Visual Appeal The volumes are visually appealing with a clean style. The page layouts are clear, concise, and easy-to-read. Scientific information is presented in a condensed format. QR codes make additional strategies quickly accessible. The sidebars and photographs of celebrities enhance the readability of each chapter. Opportunities for outreach are included, as well as a list of organizations that offer information and strategies for help. Chapters are organized by topic, and students can quickly locate the topics of interest to them. Plus, they can easily access immediate assistance. The inclusion of outreach organizations and hotline numbers is tremendously beneficial. Personal experiences of contemporary figures help show successful management and treatment of various disorders. The sensitive presentation of each disorder, combined with factual descriptions and examples of highly successful young adults, make this series a powerful tool for students who want to learn more about mental health.

Verdict By giving young people the vocabulary to help them approach discussions regarding mental health issues, this series may clear a path toward healing. Appealing primarily to teens and young adults, these books represent a fresh, no-nonsense introduction to disorders and strategies for their management. Adults will also find these books to be a valuable resource for opening dialogue or to recommend as a resource for adolescents looking for information on mental health topics. Educators will also find these books useful for recognizing symptoms or warning signs displayed by students. Although focused on young people, the series is for anyone with questions about current mental health trends and treatment options. Many of the self-care suggestions apply to anyone working on wellness and being mindful.

Darby Wallace, Mtn. Home, AR, is a former public library director and K–12 school librarian who now creates curriculum.