Books give a window into experiences we have trouble understanding, and have the power to spark conversations about tough topics we might not otherwise discuss. With that in mind, for this year’s Book to Action programming, Santa Barbara Public Library invites the community to read and discuss a book that tackles the difficult issue of suicide and mental health.
Santa Barbara has a troubling history of teen suicide, which peaked in 2016 with a cluster of 71 reported incidents, including 64 attempts. By reading and discussing a book, the library hopes to destigmatize conversations about mental health and suicide and raise awareness about services available in our community for those struggling with mental illness or experiencing thoughts of suicide.
The featured title, “Where Reasons Ends” by Yiyun Li, is a novel in the form of an imagined conversation between a mother and a child who has recently committed suicide. Written in the months after she herself lost a child to suicide, the book vividly captures the profound pain of losing a child, as well as the intensity of a mother’s love.
Li’s perspective as a survivor of suicide adds dimension and nuance to the novel.
Dozens of copies of the novel are available through SBPL Delivers! Program and can be mailed to residents of Santa Barbara, Montecito, or Carpinteria. Request via the website and specify “Where Reasons End” in the title request. Digital copies are available in ebook and eaudio format via Overdrive.
In addition to a book discussion, the Library has partnered with community organizations on events.
At 5 p.m. Friday, May 15, Santa Barbara Public Library will host a Virtual Compassion Center in partnership with Santa Barbara Response Network (SBRN). The Compassion Center will discuss suicide, suicidology, suicidal thoughts, warning signs, and resources available in the local community and nationally, with focus on supporting youth in Santa Barbara.
At 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 28, the library will host a Virtual Community Panel about the current work to support the mental health of the community. Discussion topics will include the importance of self-care, and participants will learn about activities to support their mental well-being.
Panelists include Frann Wageneck, assistant superintendent at Santa Barbara Unified School District; Suzanne Grimmesey, chief quality care and strategy officer at Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness; and Jina Carvalho, executive director of Santa Barbara Response Network.
The Santa Barbara Public Library is one of 25 California libraries chosen for Book to Action 2020, funded by the California Center for the Book, which is a program of the California Library Association, supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the state librarian.
Compassion Center for SAMSHA Suicide Prevention Awareness Day, 5 p.m. May 15; join via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/99248175950
Book to Action Mental Health Awareness Month Community Panel, 5:30 p.m. May 28; join via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/99974742866
Where Reason Ends Book Discussion, 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 19; join via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/91298259749
Visit the Santa Barbara Public Library online at SBPLibrary.org for information. All library services are free and open to the public.