Tears of a Tiger

The mental health crisis in the United States has challenged psychologists since the mid-1800s. The goal of what was called the “mental hygiene” movement was to prevent situations that caused mental health deterioration, though there were few to no definitions of what that constituted. Some believed that mental unwellness was primarily due to socioeconomic struggles; others believed that it stemmed from an imbalance of brain chemicals. Because there were no concrete definitions of mental hygiene, there was no unified approach to helping individuals struggling with mental health.

At the turn of the century, science remained divided about what causes mental illnesses. The definition of mental illness became more clear, but still broadly included all factors that affected a person’s mental wellbeing. Deeper studies led to the development of two distinct approaches to managing the mental health crisis. The first was an approach based on Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection. The basis was that mental illnesses had a biological cause that stemmed from a failed attempt to adapt to new situations. This approach was less popular because it positioned mental health as unavoidable and untreatable. The second approach was a “life story” based approach, where psychologists talked to patients with mental illness and got their life story. Through analysis, the study decided what the key causes of the mental illness were, which directed the treatment.

Today, mental health treatment has improved and access to treatment has drastically increased. Individuals are seeking help more than ever. This is creating a new crisis because psychologists’ schedules are filling fast, and they are unable to accept new patients; waitlists are longer than patient lists. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 7 10-19-year-olds experiences a mental disorder, and death by suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for young adults aged 15-29 (“Mental Health of Adolescents.” World Health Organization, 2021). Mental illnesses among adolescents are often misdiagnosed, misunderstood, and left untreated.

Tears of a Tiger addresses several difficult topics that American teenagers face. The book revolves around the impacts of drunk driving and the struggle of living with depression and guilt after a severe accident. Through her novel, Sharon M. Draper encourages teens, particularly Black teens, to consider that there is more to live for even when they feel that there is not. Through Andy and his friends, she engages both sides of the conversation—the person suffering and the support system around them. She examines both optimistic and pessimistic elements. Andy’s crisis challenges his friends, who don’t understand his ongoing trauma but want to support him to the best of their ability.

Though mental health is still a crisis in the United States, there are options for individuals seeking help. Some options include the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255), the Crisis Text Line (Text REASON to 741741), or the Mental Health Emergency Hotline established in 2022 (988).