It's Not Ok to Feel Blue: Inspirational People Open Upabout Their Mental Health book cover

It's Not Ok to Feel Blue

Inspirational People Open Upabout Their Mental Health

Scarlett Curtis
4.17(3820 Reviews)

Overview of It's Not Ok to Feel Blue

A raw, revolutionary anthology where 60+ celebrities - from Sam Smith to Emilia Clarke - shatter mental health stigmas. Endorsed by Ed Sheeran as making him "feel more normal," this collection donates proceeds to SHOUT crisis line, proving vulnerability isn't just okay - it's powerful.

Key Themes in It's Not Ok to Feel Blue

  • mental health stigma
  • vulnerability as strength
  • invisible illness
  • emotional wellness
  • coping with depression

Quotes from It's Not Ok to Feel Blue

  • Fame offers no immunity from these struggles.

  • The pretense of wellness becomes its own burden.

  • Recovery isn't linear-it's an evolving process.

  • This isn't just a book - it's the conversation we've needed for generations.

Characters in It's Not Ok to Feel Blue

  • Scarlett CurtisAuthor and curator who shared her own depression.
  • Emma ThompsonContributor who shared her mental health story.
  • Emilia ClarkeContributor who shared her mental health story.
  • William StyronWriter who documented his depression.
  • Carrie FisherPublic figure who discussed her bipolar disorder.

About the Author

About the Author of It's Not Ok to Feel Blue

Scarlett Curtis, bestselling author and curator of It’s Not Okay to Feel Blue & Other Lies, is a leading voice in modern feminism and mental health advocacy.

This anthology, blending personal essays and cultural commentary, brings together 74 contributors to dismantle stigma around mental health—a theme rooted in Curtis’s activism and writing for The Guardian, Vogue, and Sunday Times Style. Her debut work, Feminists Don’t Wear Pink & Other Lies, a Sunday Times bestseller and National Book Award winner, pioneered her approach to amplifying diverse voices, with royalties supporting the UN’s Girl Up initiative.

A co-founder of The Pink Protest, Curtis has driven campaigns to end period poverty and female genital mutilation, earning her the 2019 Changemaker Award from Gucci and Equality Now. Her writing merges sharp cultural analysis with grassroots activism, reflected in her role as a UN Women UK advocate. It’s Not Okay to Feel Blue has been praised by Stephen Fry as “the freshest, most urgent collection on mental health,” cementing Curtis’s reputation for sparking dialogue on societal taboos.

Download Summary of It's Not Ok to Feel Blue

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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

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@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

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"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
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12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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37
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483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
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