Psychologist and author Jodie Benveniste recommends fiction books as the ‘simplest tool’ to tackle teen mental health issues

In the era of doom-scrolling and spiralling teen mental health problems, this psychologist suggests an unexpected solution that starts with a visit to the local library.

Teen mental health – yes, it feels like we’re at crisis point.

Teens under duress, schools struggling to support student needs, parents feeling helpless.

Modern life – social media, escalating screen time, disconnected communities – isn’t helping.

Access to more therapeutic support and a well-resourced mental health system would certainly make a difference.

But what if we’re overlooking another simple, powerful way to support teen mental health – one that’s both accessible and affordable?

Phones are in the hands of nearly every teenager, but what if they were replaced by books?

The ‘secret weapon’

Stories.

Stories could be our biggest secret weapon in facing the surge of teen mental health issues.

Adolescence is already a challenging time: big feelings, emotional firsts, friendship drama, identity struggles.

It’s the developmental bridge between childhood and adulthood, a time of separating from family and deciding who we are.

In past generations, the path to adulthood was clearer, if narrower.

Teenagers Emma Hearn (15), Kane Kjellgren (14), Georgie Chaplin (16), Madi Thomas (16) and Will Whitwell (14) with their favourite books.

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Now there are more choices and more uncertainty.

It’s no surprise that anxiety, depression, substance use and eating disorders often emerge in these years.

On top of this, teens face familiar pressures – self-doubt, peer influence, the need to achieve, and stress – which can make this stage even more challenging.

So how can fiction make a difference?

Stories create shared experiences.

Through characters and plot, teens can explore what it’s like to face bullying, rejection or family dysfunction – without the lived experience themselves – building empathy and insight.

And for teens already struggling, the right book can offer the relief of being seen and understood.

Stories also create pockets of belonging. Fandoms show how fictional worlds spill into real life. Potterheads, Tolkeinites and Hunger Games Tributes create community through shared language, references, symbols and in-jokes.

Belonging and connection are strong protective factors for wellbeing, buffering against isolation and loneliness.

Milly McMaster, from Sacred Heart College in Geelong, tends to choose a paperback over a device for reading. Picture: Alison Wynd

And stories help us make sense of ourselves.

Teens react to characters in ways that invite reflection: Would I do the same? Can I relate? What do I admire? What do I question?

This process builds self-awareness: Why don’t I like that character? How am I similar? What have I learned about myself and the world?

For schools, choosing novels that resonate with teens offers a way to embed wellbeing without a lecture.

In a crowded curriculum, literature can serve both academic study and personal reflection, weaving emotional learning into existing classes.

Jodie Benveniste is a psychologist and author of teen fiction who speaks with families about children's wellbeing. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

For parents, it can be hard to know how to help when teens are struggling.

Reading alongside them enriches conversations and deepens connection.

Instead of focusing on the teen, we focus on the characters and the story.

It’s an easier way to offer support without overstepping.

And for young people themselves, stories provide a link to something larger than their own lives – a connection that lies at the heart of emotional wellbeing.

In the world of imagination, teens can step beyond their own perspective and open to greater possibility.

Young adult novels that open doors to conversation

Jodie Benveniste's debut novel, Never, Not Ever.

• Turtles All the Way Down – John Green

Tackles OCD and anxiety with honesty and empathy.

• All the Bright Places – Jennifer Niven

Explores depression, suicide, and the struggle to stay alive.

• Heartstopper – Alice Oseman

A graphic novel series that sensitively portrays eating disorders and recovery.

• The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling – Wai Chim

Examines the challenges of growing up with a parent’s mental illness.

• Never, Not Ever & Everything’s Absolutely Fine – Jodie Benveniste

Explore belonging, grief, stress eating, and body image through relatable teen romance.

Jodie Benveniste is the author of two teen fiction books, Never Not Ever and Everything’s Absolutely Fine. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

If we’re serious about supporting teen mental health, we can’t overlook the power of story.

It won’t replace therapy, but it can certainly complement it.

Sometimes the simplest tools are the most profound.

Jodie Benveniste is a psychologist and author of teen novels that weave story with emotional insight and wellbeing.

Originally published as Psychologist and author Jodie Benveniste recommends fiction books as the ‘simplest tool’ to tackle teen mental health issues