Eight books that break the silence around suicide

Rocky Callen is a critically acclaimed author and passionate mental health advocate. Her novel, A Breath Too Late, was born out of her own experiences with depression, domestic violence, and suicidal ideation. She was a co-contributing editor to the Ab(solutely) Normal: Sixteen Stories that Smash Mental Health Stereotypes. She’s a frequent speaker and panelist about art and mental health. She founded The HoldOn2Hope Project, an initiative that unites creatives in suicide prevention.

At People magazine Callen tagged eight "books [that] grapple with mental health, grief, and suicide with honesty." One title on the list:

The Golden Boy’s Guide to Bipolar by Sonido Reyes

This YA novel unflinchingly explores bipolar disorder alongside religion, queerness and identity. Through unraveling and reckoning, it offers a raw, human portrait of mental illness shaped by cultural and spiritual expectations.

Read about another title on the list.

Q&A with Sonido Reyes.

--Marshal Zeringue