The First Character with Mental Health Challenges

By: Emily Carrington

May is National mental Health Awareness month, and I wanted to highlight mental illness as something many people live with. It’s more than just depression, just as it’s always been more complicated than, “Just think happy thoughts.” (That’s a direct quote from a stranger who heard me mention my chronic depression.)

I have explored depression in my books several times, and although I have yet to interact on the page with other forms of mental health, I am researching all the time. I want to write a romance where one of the characters has Dissociative Identity Disorder, and another about the differences between dysmorphia and dysphoria. There’s a joy that comes from writing about the challenges that society is currently (and historically) trying to write off as unimportant.

My first in-depth exploration of mental health came in the form of Abe Yoshida, a veterinarian who embraces all things about himself, except that he lost a dear family member, his dog, Santa, years ago. He’s still grieving that loss. With his lover, Peter’s, help, he seeks out a mental health professional and learns to accept responsibility without heaping guilt on his head. The three books where he and Peter learn about the importance of communication and sharing are: Compassion Fatigue, Independence Fatigue, and Holiday Fatigue.

What mental health challenge would you like to read about in a romance? Send me your thoughts at: emilycarrington118@gmail.com.