Did you know May is National Mental Health Awareness Month? 1 in 5 U.S. adults and 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience mental illness each year according to the National Alliance on Mental illness. Especially during the coronavirus pandemic, widespread hardship has caused many people to struggle with mental health. The music, videos and books listed below can help you cope with mental health during this tough time.

Soothe: Music To Quiet Your Mind & Soothe Your World
Music (62 mins)
Jim Brickman
New Age

Unlimited Mental Abilities Subliminal Affirmations & Guided Meditation Hypnosis With Relaxing Music
Music (84 mins)
Subliminal Threshold Affirmations
New Age

Music (184 mins)
Relaxing Music
Easy Listening

New Calm Relaxation – Anti-Stress
Music (59 mins)
Houseman
New Age

Music (69 mins)
David Ison
New AgeĀ

The Mindfulness Movie – The Benefits of Mindfulness
Video (70 mins)
A fun and educational journey showcasing worldwide brain research proving the benefits of mindfulness and the public’s increasing awareness and acceptance of the practice. The movie celebrates those who have reshaped mindfulness into everyday, practical skills.

Video (120 mins)
Free the Mind follows neuroscientist Dr. Richard Davidson as he conducts an unusual experiment. Following the practices of Buddhist monks and the advice of his friend the Dalai Lama, Dr. Davidson utilizes meditation and yoga in an attempt to physically alter the brains of veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Living in Fear: Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Video (19 mins)
Anxiety is a real struggle for many individuals. understanding the hardships of this disorder empowers healthcare workers to give patients the appropriate care. In this program you will learn the criteria for having a Generalized Anxiety Disorder and the manner in which anxiety can become a pervasive reality in people’s lives.

Video 1 of playlist “Mad Dance: A Mental Health Film Trilogy – Featuring Crooked Beauty”
Video (35 mins)
Crooked Beauty is an internationally acclaimed poetic documentary that chronicles artist-activist Jacks McNamara’s transformative journey from psych ward inpatient to pioneering mental health advocacy. It is an intimate portrait of her intense personal quest to live with courage and dignity, and a powerful critique of standard psychiatric treatments.

Shadow Voices: Finding Hope in Mental Illness
Video (59 mins)
Here is an inside look at what it is like to live with a mental illness and how individuals and their families find their way through medical, governmental, societal and spiritual issues–to hope.

Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess: 5 Simple, Scientifically Proven Steps to Reduce Anxiety, Stress, and Toxic Thinking by Leaf, Caroline
Our toxic thoughts, depression and anxiety are frequently aggravated by our chaotic world, and they are sustained by an inability to manage our thought life. The author provides a 5-step, 63-day plan, the Neurocycle, to find and eliminate the root of anxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts in your life so you can experience dramatically improved mental and physical health.

13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do: Take Back Your Power, Embrace Change, Face Your Fears, and Train Your Brain For Happiness and Success by Morin, Amy
print book | ebook | audiobook
Morin expands upon the 13 Things from her viral post and shares her tried-and-true practices for increasing mental strength. Increasing your mental strength can change your entire attitude. It takes practice and hard work, but with Morin’s specific tips, exercises, and troubleshooting advice, it is possible to not only fortify your mental muscle but also drastically improve the quality of your life.

The Art of Taking It Easy: How to Cope with Bears, Traffic, and the Rest of Life’s Stressors by Brian King
Dr. Brian King got a degree in psychology before becoming a world-touring comic and the host of humor therapy seminars attended by more than ten thousand people each year. In this brilliant guide he presents hands-on techniques for managing stress by rewiring our brains to approach potentially difficult situations through a lens of positivity.

Your Brain Needs a Hug : Life, Love, Mental Health, and Sandwiches by Earl, Rae
Rae Earl offers her personalized advice on the A to Zs of mental health, social media, family and friendship.Your Brain Needs a Hug is filled with her friendly advice, coping strategies and laugh-out-loud moments to get you through the difficult days.

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
An expert on traumatic stress outlines an approach to healing, explaining how traumatic stress affects brain processes and how to use innovative treatments to reactivate the mind’s abilities to trust, engage others, and experience pleasure.
-Hongmei, Adult Services & Acquisitions Librarian