Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma Amaçları
Yayınlar
- MakaleYalnız künye2026Typical Responses to Atypical Circumstances: Representation of Mental Disorders in All The Things We Never Said
Demir, Nalan
Early childhood experiences play a critical role in shaping mental health outcomes, often contributing to psychological disorders that persist into adulthood. Early diagnosis, therefore, can significantly improve treatment efficacy. To support this, mental health literacy is essential, enabling individuals to recognize symptoms in themselves and others. Young adult fiction that explores mental health issues serves as a powerful medium for raising awareness. It resonates with adolescents who face similar challenges by fostering solidarity, while also educating readers without such experiences. This study analyses the British young adult novel All The Things We Never Said (Rahman, 2019) through descriptive content analysis, using DSM-5 criteria and current psychopathology literature to code and interpret representations of mental disorders. Among the three narrators—Mahreen, Cara, and Olivia—Mahreen grapples with depression and anxiety, while Cara and Olivia exhibit symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. By comparing these portrayals with clinical literature, the novel is shown to offer a realistic depiction of these conditions. Such representations have the potential to promote empathy, strengthen a sense of community among those affected, and enhance mental health literacy among readers.
- MakaleYalnız künye2026Scopus SJRQ3Challenge of existence: social anxiety in Finding Audrey
Demir, Nalan
Mental health problems affect individuals worldwide, and literature functions as a medium for both reflecting and shaping social understandings of these issues. Young adult (YA) novels that address mental health can raise public awareness, enhance mental health literacy, and support earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment. This study examines the representation of social anxiety disorder in Finding Audrey (2015) by Sophie Kinsella, focusing on the protagonist Audrey Turner. It analyses Audrey’s experience through her symptoms and treatment process, classifying symptoms into behavioural and cognitive-emotional categories. Behavioural symptoms include avoidance, limited eye contact, and physical reactions, while cognitive-emotional symptoms involve negative self-talk, shame, low self-esteem, negative self-perception, and diminished trust in others. These symptoms and the depicted therapeutic approaches are evaluated in relation to current psychological and psychiatric research. Overall, the novel presents social anxiety disorder in a realistic and psychologically coherent manner, aligning with findings in psychology and psychiatry.
- MakaleYalnız künye2025Scopus SJRQ3Narrative empathy in young adult literature: Am I normal yet?
Demir, Nalan
Mental health issues are increasingly common in modern societies, yet public awareness has not kept pace. The invisibility of psychological disorders and fear of stigma contribute to this gap. Early detection is vital, especially among young people. Literature with its impact on emotional and cognitive development, can help raise awareness and provide support. This study examines Holly Bourne’s Am I Normal Yet? through the lens of narrative empathy to explore how fiction can shape perceptions of mental illness. It analyzes the novel’s first-person narration and embodied narration, which may evoke empathy for the protagonist experiencing obsessive-compulsive disorder. These techniques can encourage emotional engagement and foster compassionate attitudes toward mental health challenges. Moreover, such literature may offer validation and solidarity to struggling readers. Ultimately, this research highlights young adult fiction's potential to enhance mental health literacy and act as an empathetic bridge between individual experience and societal understanding.
- MakaleYalnız künye2024All the things we never said through the lens of narrative empathy
Uysal, Mehmet Başak; Demir, Nalan
The study examines Yasmin Rahman's young adult novel, All The Things We Never Said, from the perspective of narrative empathy. The work centres around the survival challenges faced by three young individuals: Cara, Olivia, and Mahreen. Cara is rendered immobile as a result of her father's death in a tragic incident, and thereafter manifests symptoms indicative of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Olivia is compelled to conceal her mother’s lover's act of abuse in order to ensure her own survival, while Mahreen struggles with the challenges posed by anxiety and depression. The story closes with their relationship progressing from an initial endeavour to assist one another in dying to a strong friendship that promotes reciprocal healing. The novel's narrative strategies were examined within the framework of narrative empathy theory to understand how they evoke empathic responses. The analysis focuses on the point of view, embodied narration, and representation of empathy in the novel.
- MakaleAçık Erişim2024“Chasing a Ghost” in Young Adult Literature: Mental Illness in Am I Normal Yet?
Uysal, Mehmet Başak; Demir, Nalan
The relative lack of attention given to mental health issues compared to physical health problems in society poses a significant barrier to the development of adequate literacy surrounding mental health concerns. Furthermore, the pervasive stigmatization of individuals suffering from these disorders exacerbates the burden they face. In light of the increasing prevalence of mental illnesses and the imperative for timely interventions, the potential of Young Adult Literature depicting mental illnesses to enhance literacy in this realm appears promising. Consequently, it is aimed to examine the representation of obsessive-compulsive disorder in Am I Normal Yet? by the British author Holly Bourne. Initially, the disorders are contextualized within a broader framework, followed by an exploration of their representation within the novel. Subsequently, a thorough analysis is carried out on these representations, with a specific emphasis on how symptoms and treatment alternatives are presented in the narrative. Furthermore, due to the impact of environmental factors on mental health problems, the reactions elicited by these disorders within the storyline are investigated and discussed.