More than a Princess

Carrie Fisher, known to millions as Princess Leia, died yesterday.  But her legacy also included shining a light onto the struggles of people with mental illness.  She spoke and wrote with honesty and humor about her bipolar disorder at a time when it was taboo to discuss such things.

Books, as many librarians and writers like Carrie know, are a wonderful way to raise awareness and also to support those who are struggling and need recognition.  School Library Journal provides a mental health booklist for teens in its recent article "Bibliotherapy for Teens: Helpful Tips and Recommended Fiction."  YALSA offers an action plan for raising awareness and offering support in the blog post "The Calm Before the Storm: How Teens and Libraries Can Fight Mental Illness."