#MHYALit: Who Cares for the Caregivers?

by Karen Jensen, TLT | Blogs
Aug 22, 2016 | Filed in Blogs
  Storify by TeenLibrarianToolbox Mon, Aug 22 2016 12:50:59 Edit Who cares for the caregivers? TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16 I have a thing I want to say about depression/mental health. It will take a couple of tweets. Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:00:01 ReplyRetweetFavorite TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16 When we lost a baby, several people reached out to us. When I was […]
 MHYALitlogoofficfial
by
Mon, Aug 22 2016 12:50:59

Who cares for the caregivers?

  1. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    I have a thing I want to say about depression/mental health. It will take a couple of tweets.

    Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:00:01

  2. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    When we lost a baby, several people reached out to us. When I was in bed rest, several people reached out to us. When my child had surgery

    Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:00:56

  3. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Well, you get the point. When people are sick, we reach out to families because we understand that being a caregiver is hard.

    Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:01:37

  4. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Guess what, loving someone with a mental illness is also hard. It’s hard in spouses. It’s hard on children. And we don’t support those

    Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:02:26

  5. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    caregivers in the same ways that we support caregivers in the face of other losses or illnesses. Dealing w/mental health can be lonely.

    Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:03:11

  6. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Part of it is, of course, because there is still so much stigma attached to mental health issues, so people stay silent.

    Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:03:51

  7. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Part of it is because I think we forget the illness part of mental illness. We focus on the word mental and not the word illness.

    Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:04:35

  8. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Part of it is, I’m sure, because we don’t know how or if or when to talk about it. Like, can you just call up a friend & ask how you are

    Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:05:45

  9. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    hanging in there while your wife or mother is having a major depressive episode? It depends on the person & your friendship.

    Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:06:31

  10. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    For some people, they would appreciate a friendly text or a meal or just acknowledgment that they are a caregiver & it is challenging.

    Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:07:25

  11. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    If you are friends with someone & you know that their spouse/child/parent struggles, ask them how they would like you to acknowledge or not

    Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:08:49

  12. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Some people just need to know that people are aware of their struggles and they are there if they ever need anything.

    Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:10:01

  13. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Some people just need to know that they don’t have to struggle through the wilderness alone.

    Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:10:38

  14. TLT16
    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Okay readers: I’m looking for examples of characters who have a parent/sibling w/a mental illness & their friends acknowledging/supporting

    Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:29:50

  15. heidiheilig
    heidi heilig@heidiheilig
    @TLT16 iirc, the MC’s roommates and friends help the MC to understand/escape her mom (who is narcissistic) in THE FIRST TIME SHE DROWNED.

    Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:31:35

  16. tingerson
    trevor ingerson@tingerson
    @TLT16 CRAZY by Han Nolan is one word my favorite YAs of all time. Told in the format of a Greek tragedy. So good.

    Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:31:41

  17. heidiheilig
    heidi heilig@heidiheilig
    @TLT16 & (to tackily toot my own horn) in THE GIRL FROM EVERYWHERE the MC’s father is bipolar/an addict, & her friends/crew are supportive.

    Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:33:26

  18. Voronochka262
    Evelyn Lukey@Voronochka262
    @TLT16 Cath from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

    Sun, Aug 21 2016 23:46:05

  19. tullymonsters
    Tully Family@tullymonsters
    @TLT16 The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson

    Mon, Aug 22 2016 00:32:25

  20. pgtwentythree
    Camillia@pgtwentythree
    @TLT16 @YAIndulgences Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

    Mon, Aug 22 2016 00:46:20

  21. YAIndulgences
    Amber@YAIndulgences
    @TLT16 I think The Weight of Zero is supposed to have a good support system.

    Mon, Aug 22 2016 00:47:04

  22. bookchic13
    sara@bookchic13
    @TLT16 @YAIndulgences Alexi from Faking Normal has Blue and Sam from Every Last Word has her fam and the poetry corner.

    Mon, Aug 22 2016 01:21:49

  23. TristinaWright
    Tristina Wright ✨@TristinaWright
    @jclillis @TLT16 it’s not out until 2017 but GRENDEL’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND WAR by AE Kaplan. MC’s dad has PTSD.

    Mon, Aug 22 2016 02:12:38

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX

Book Review: Light Filters In: Poems by Caroline Kaufman
by Amanda MacGregor | Blogs
BLOGS

Celebrating 7 Years of TLT: 7 Years, 7 Books Giveaway
by Karen Jensen, TLT | Blogs
TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX

Sunday Reflections: In Which The Teen Writes a Poem About Sexual Harassment
by Karen Jensen, TLT | Blogs
TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX

Sunday Reflections: Dear Writers, Women’s Stories Don’t Always Have to Involve Sexual Violence
by Karen Jensen, TLT | Blogs
TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX

Twin Cities Teen Lit Con 2018: Mental Health in YA Literature Presentation
by Amanda MacGregor | Blogs
NEWS & FEATURES

Aurora Library Director on Controversial Poem: "This Was a Mistake That Does Not Represent Us."
by Kara Yorio | Blogs
More
RECOMMENDED
Story Image
CAREERS

The job outlook in 2030: Librarians will be in demand

Rebecca T. Miller, Dec 07, 2017
According to "The Future of skills: Employment is 2030", there will be an increased call for librarians, curators, and archivists, among other occupations.
Story Image
CAREERS

The job outlook in 2030: Librarians will be in demand

Rebecca T. Miller, Dec 07, 2017
According to "The Future of skills: Employment is 2030", there will be an increased call for librarians, curators, and archivists, among other occupations.
Story Image
CAREERS

The job outlook in 2030: Librarians will be in demand

Rebecca T. Miller, Dec 07, 2017
According to "The Future of skills: Employment is 2030", there will be an increased call for librarians, curators, and archivists, among other occupations.
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?