What topic research would be good if I want to write about English literature and mental health? I am an English major student with a psychology minor.

With an English background and a minor in Psychology, investigations can go deep into the multidimensional scope where English Literature and mental health cross. Possible topics you might want to consider include the following: Research Topics of Promise Madness through the Ages: This is a discussion of the representation of mental illness in literature. One could discuss how societal attitudes about mental health have changed over time and how such changes are reflected in literature; for instance, how this evolved from the Romantic era's trope of insanity to today's narratives of compassion and empathy. Devices of Sickness: Explain how a novel's stream-of-consciousness, unreliable narrators, or symbolism convey pathologically complicated states of mind. Works such as Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf and The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath are real treasures regarding this kind of device. Psychological Fiction and Reader Perception: The genre of psychological fiction sinks deep into the inner life of protagonists, usually considered for one reason or another to be struggling with some form of mental health problem. How do such stories influence readers in their perception of mental illness, and further stigma or empathy? Interdisciplinary Approaches to Literature and Mental Health: Present research in which the field of literature is combined with psychology, such as the therapeutic effects of reading. As an example, explore ways in which shared reading initiatives or bibliotherapy might be used within a clinical context to support recovery from mental ill health. Gender issues in literature that pertain to mental health: Examine how gender informs the artistic expression of psychological disability in literature. This would include female experiences from characters created by authors like Plath but also from more contemporary writings that have put a spotlight on postpartum depression and anxiety. Graphic Medicine and Mental Health Narratives: Consider the emergent genre of graphic medicine-that is, applying the comic form to the visual narration of personal experience in mental health. The medium is particularly suited to convey complex emotions and experiences in a more available form. The Influence of Cultural Context on Mental Health Narratives: Discuss how cultural context informs the narratives related to mental illness. This could include discussions of how cultural background informs the writings of authors from varied walks of life and the differences reflected in the literature on mental health. Literature as Mirror of Societal Changes in the Awareness of Mental Health: Analyze how modern literature works to normalize discussions around mental health and how it has changed with particular reference to COVID-19. Think of works that show 'lockdown' isolation, anxiety, and resilience. Approaches To underpin your exploration of these areas, consider the following methodological routes forward: Literary Analysis: Engage in close readings of texts to identify themes, symbols, and character development tied to mental health. Comparative Studies: Papers would discuss how mental illness is presented through a range of authors or generations to demonstrate developments and/or changes in societal attitudes. Based on interviews or questionnaires, either qualitatively if relevant, the respondents' or practitioners' views about the position of literature in furthering understanding about mental health. Case Studies: Investigate particular works of literature or literary movements that have transformed public conceptions about mental health.