By /

Arshneer Khaira

Self-Help or Self-Harm? The Role of Self-Help Books in Normalizing or Stigmatizing Mental Health Struggles

Biography

Arshneer Khaira is a 2025 graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Professional Communication program. She has a passion for digital media and storytelling and has enjoyed exploring the intersection of communication, culture, and design throughout her studies. She has developed a strong foundation in content creation, writing, and strategic communication, which are skills she looks forward to applying in future roles. 

During her academic journey, Arshneer has had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in various marketing and communications positions, including her work as a Digital Content Assistant for TMU Athletics and Recreation, and as a Content Chapter Writer for Her Campus TMU. With a strong interest in digital storytelling, she is eager to continue refining her skills and exploring opportunities in social media and communications. 

As an avid reader with a keen interest in mental health discourse, her research explores the impact of self-help books on normalizing or stigmatizing mental health struggles. Her work reflects a broader commitment to understanding how communication influences societal attitudes and individual well-being.

Connect with Arshneer on LinkedIn.

Details of Project

This research study examines the impact of self-help books on mental health struggles, exploring whether they encourage open discussions and professional help-seeking or reinforce stigma and individual blame. As self-help remains a billion-dollar industry influencing millions, its role in shaping societal attitudes toward mental health justifies critical analysis.

Using a mixed-methods approach, this research includes a content analysis of six bestselling self-help books, a review analysis of reader perceptions from Amazon and Goodreads, and survey data assessing reader attitudes. Shaped by the theoretical framework of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the study investigates whether self-help books foster autonomy, competence, relatedness, and intrinsic motivation or impose unrealistic self-improvement expectations that may discourage external support.

This research contributes to discussions on mental health communication and literacy, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach in self-help literature, one that empowers individuals while acknowledging the importance of professional mental health support. 

Lightning talk

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