Book Review: “It’s OK Not to Be OK” by Dr. Tina Rae

Growing up, I really didn’t know much about mental health. It is talked about more now than it was 30 years ago, though still not enough, in my opinion.

I was recently at Barnes and Noble with a friend of mine. I came across the book, It’s OK Not to Be OK by Dr. Tina Rae. The cover and size of the book looked like it was for a child. As I began turning the pages, it made me wish I had read it many years back. It talks about depression, anxiety, self-care, bullying, kindness, helping others, accomplishing goals, and so much more. It says it is for ages 9-12, however I feel people of all ages can learn something from it. I love how it has notes for parents, guardians, and teachers on how they can best help children. It made me happy to see a list of resources at the end of this book. I know that at any age, it is nice to know that we’re not alone and be able to have hope that there are people, places, and things that can help. 

I don’t typically write reviews on books, however, this one is the best of the best and can be life changing for people, especially children. I have been involved in a skills group called Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and I always said to myself, “If I would have been taught these skills and had a different way of thinking when I was a child, I might have had a different state of mind.” When I flipped through the pages of this book, I saw all these skills that I’ve been learning in DBT, that are in the form of what a child would understand. 

I can’t make a promise that this book will help every child out there and magically make this world a better place. What I can say is that DBT is evidence-based and has changed many lives for the better, mine included. I seriously think this book should be another Bible to people of all ages.