You Will Get Through This: A Mental Health Tool Kit―Help for Depression, Anxiety, Grief, and More

by Julie Radico, Charity O'Reilly, Nicole Helverson

An all-in-one guide to taking charge of your mental health, with research-proven strategies to alleviate daily struggles such as depression, anxiety, panic disorder, ADHD, and insomnia

With growing barriers to mental health care—from months-long therapy wait-lists to financial concerns to rampant online misinformation—it’s hard to know where to turn when you need help now. This book, written by three practicing therapists, is your comprehensive mental health first-aid kit. Drawing on the techniques they use with their patients, they offer compassionate, evidence-based strategies for managing common mental health struggles. Even better, these are techniques that anyone can do at home. You Will Get Through This helps you identify and understand common mental health problems and their related coping strategies. In each chapter, you’ll find:

what the research says about the issue
coping mechanisms that are used in actual therapy rooms
step-by-step guidance on using these strategies in real life and overcoming common obstacles
tips for communicating about the issue with your loved ones


With a holistic biopsychosocial approach that takes into account the biological, social, and environmental factors affecting mental health, You Will Get Through This illuminates the road to wellness and allows you to take charge of your own healing.

Genres: Mental Health, Nonfiction, Health, Self Help

304 pages, Paperback

Published July 2, 2024

Reviews

[Roohani · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded to 4 stars ⭐

"You Will Get Through This: A Mental Health First-Aid Kit - Help for Depression, Anxiety, Grief, and More" is a good foundational book for people who are beginning their journey into mental health awareness or for individuals grappling with the concept of needing help.

The authors made a great choice in balancing scientific jargon with everyday language. It would familiarize readers with common terms they might encounter in a professional setting without overwhelming them.

Issues are divided into various chapters, each with multiple sections. It starts with a discussion of symptoms, followed by therapy options—though this section is focused on the US, it might not be as helpful for those outside the country. The practical advice in the coping strategies sections is immediately applicable. The tips on assisting others are insightful, and I love the resource lists offered as a pathway to further education and support.

Thank you Netgalley and The Experiment for the ARC.

[Kaleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This aptly named "Mental Health First Aid Kit" is packed with insight into mental health concerns and practical tools for immediate support. In a time where mental health discussions are more prevalent than ever, having this resource from seasoned professionals is invaluable. It provides research-backed and compassionate guidance for those seeking to better comprehend various mental health conditions and support themselves or others in accessing necessary care. I highly recommend it for anyone looking to deepen their understanding and empower themselves or others to navigate mental health challenges effectively.

[Emily Erickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If the only thing you know about mental health is that there’s something that feels bad about yours, this book is for you. It contains 101-level info about lots of common mental health diagnoses (e.g., anxiety, depression, PTSD) and other reasons people seek out professional help (e.g., sleep problems, loneliness, and infertility and pregnancy loss). You’ll also get info on how to navigate the mental health system, which can be overwhelming even in the best of times. While the info for any single topic is pretty birds-eye, if you see yourself reflected on these pages, the authors leave you with plenty of ideas for where to go next for more in-depth info.

Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Will Get Through This is a comprehensive book taking you through varying common mental health conditions and conditions which affect mental health in the realms of mental health, social health, sexual health and physical health before a final paragraph summarising how you can get help. It is clear and concise, offering what research says about each, coping mechanisms recommended (and led) by professionals, guidance on using the strategies in life, and tips for communicating about it with loved ones. I really enjoyed the way it was written. Each section follows the same structure, the content is easy to understand and I liked that it offered options to help children and recommendations of other helpful texts and resources. One thing to note is that it is written with references to the US healthcare system. The tips and tricks are applicable worldwide but small parts will only be relevant to readers in America.

[Tom O'Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the 101 Introduction to Mental Health that we never had in school. The book feels narrative enough to be read from front-to-back, but it's organized enough to be used as a reference. There are 26 chapters that all follow the same structure.

1. There is a brief description of the issue
This section answers if this chapter is relevant to the reader.
2. What Professional Help Might Look Like
Some people are best served by caring, qualified professionals. Here's what to look for.
3. Strategies to try
These are strategies that everyone can use, even if professional care is unavailable or just not what you're looking for.
4. Barriers to healing or recovery
If healing was easy, we wouldn't need a book. If these frustrations have happened to you, you aren't alone or crazy.
5. How to communicate about the issue.
These are helpful ways to talk about an issue; both if you are experiencing the issue; or are the loved one of someone who is experiencing it- including if the loved one is a child.
What coping with the issue looks like in real life
I resonate with these example stories more than a clinical checklist. It's probably why I was only diagnosed with ADHD at 28 years old, even though I was a Psychology major. :)
Additional Resources
The book is a concise introduction to the issues. The authors want to give visibility to authors and communities who are specializing in those issues.

There are "Kid-Friendly Tips" in every chapter to adapt the information for the little humans in your life.

Overall, I found the book to be trauma-informed and inclusive. The authors present information in a compassionate voice that I would feel comfortable recommending this book to anyone.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

I may be biased because im a mental health therapist, but the book seemed very 101 to me. It wasn’t bad, but I don’t think it provided anything new and exciting that many haven’t heard before. It may be a helpful reminder, but more than likely, not providing anything brand new.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the healthcare system but wondered if you need help with something related to mental health, this is the book for you.

If you want more practical and thoughtful and affordable help for your current struggles, this is the book for you.

If you love someone who is struggling and want to know how to better support them, this is the book for you.

I'm honestly blown away by how down-to-earth this book feels while seeing the pages and pages of research references in the back. This is such a thoughtful book, written by three therapists who are on the ground level with clients, and you can feel it.

It is so easy to navigate, and I love how it is organized. It is full of tools and techniques you can do at home and help understanding what you're going through, including specific application for children and other resources beyond these pages (which include books, apps and podcast recommendations.)

Beyond strategies for coping, this book also offers so much validation with sections highlighting real barriers to healing in this specific area, and what the research says about others who struggle in this way. I kept imagining how comforting and validating it would feel to see both those things highlighted in an area I was deeply struggling with currently.

I love the subtitle of "a mental health first-aid kit" because that truly feels like what it is: the resource you go to first when something is wrong. Covering everything from depression, anxiety & grief to infertility, poor sleep, burnout and ADHD and more, this book really covers some of the most common challenges, while also holding space for the nuance and range of how each struggle can present.

As someone who has struggled or loved someone who has struggled with multiple topics covered here, this is the book I wish I had when going through those hard seasons. I'm so grateful to have it on my shelf now. Highly recommend.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Imagine making a stack of every brochure in your therapist’s office about mental health issues and adverse situations like domestic violence, depression, anxiety and eating disorders. Each section tells you what criteria you need to meet to be diagnosed, what might be prescribed or offered to help, a little bit about how to help others and children with it, and resources. This is not information like how to make it through these things and get better, just what your traditional options are. It is also very much centered around standard psychological and medical solutions like taking SSRI medications, CBT, etc. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t already know this basic information, but perhaps those with no experience with mental health resources would find it useful.

I read a temporary digital copy of this book for review.

[lizzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

You Will Get Through This is a good resource for those struggling with mental health issues, but I feel like the information presented was very minimal and entry-level. This is a great book if you're beginning to research an issue you're having but isn't going to get into the meat and potatoes of your disorder.

I was dismayed that many of the mental health issues seemed to be lumped together and weren't as specific as they could have been. I feel like with more detail, this could be an even better resource. Rather than just 'panic disorder' or 'generalized anxiety disorder' other issues like OCD could have been added and more information on how different mental health issues cross over each other and can be misrepresented. For example, OCD is often misdiagnosed as GAD and they are very different with entirely different treatments, etc.

[M. Kircher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Empower yourself with “You Will Get Through This: A Mental Health First Aid Kit.” Authored by mental health experts, this research-based guide provides practical strategies for common mental health struggles. Its personal tone and holistic approach make you feel cared for. With short chapters and clear sections, the material is easy to read and apply to your life. I loved the actionable takeaways to not only enhance my personal well-being but to support my friends, family, and co-workers. This guide is a fantastic primer about mental health care.

[Kate Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is brilliant. It is so informative across multiple different mental, social, and physical health disorders.
The book is broken down into easy digest chunks, and is brilliantly laid out with subheadings so you can find out the exact info you need/want.
The only downside is that it refers to the US medical system rather than UK and the NHS/private.

[Hannah E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant at doing just what it says: mental health first aid. It’s a great reference book for any person or family without much background in mental health. The book provides great chunks of relevant info and what to do when you or someone you know is going through something difficult in life. It also normalized mental health struggles as well as options for help. Love it!

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good tool in navigating mental health, especially if this is new territory for you. Broken into sections by the disorder, with strategies to try, barriers to work/life balance, How to Communicate, and what the disorder looks like in real life. Would be a good jumping off point if you or a loved one has a mental health diagnosis and you're seeking understanding.

[Lacey Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explains different types of mental/physical illnesses, and how to cope and grow from them. I recommend reading this book even if you're not struggling, because there are tips on helping those you care about around you who happen to be struggling.

[Nikki Penda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read the chapters on anxiety, grief, and sleep. Basic

[Viviane · Rating 4 out of 5]

quick, easy read
I like that each chapter has a similar structure and they add resources at the end.

[Fridge Magnet Eater · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took some of the exercises from this book and implemented them into my live. The change has been great! I’m seeing improvement and doing things that make me happy.

[Angela Bezold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some useful information.

[Gigi McCullar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has a great catalog of resources at the end of each chapter. I found this to be easy to read despite the difficult content of certain disorders. The format is well designed.