Reasons to Stay Alive is a memoir about depression, anxiety and recovery that speaks directly to people who struggle and those who want to support them. Matt Haig describes his own mental health crisis in his twenties, when panic disorder and depression made everyday life feel unmanageable, and traces the slow, non-linear process of finding stability again.

Rather than presenting a dramatic “before and after” story, the book stays close to lived experience. Haig writes in short chapters, lists and reflections that mirror how mental illness disrupts concentration and time. This structure makes the book accessible even when reading feels difficult. Alongside personal narrative, he includes practical observations about medication, therapy, work pressure, social expectations and the unhelpful myths surrounding happiness and success.

A key strength of the book is its language. It gives readers words for experiences that are often hard to articulate, which is one reason it has been widely used in workplaces and educational contexts. The focus is not on productivity or performance, but on safety, honesty and staying connected. Haig repeatedly underlines that mental health struggles are not personal failures and that recovery does not mean returning to a previous version of oneself.

For organisations, the book offers more than empathy. It helps normalise conversations about mental health, encourages early support and shows why simple, consistent signals of care matter. Its core message is quiet but durable: when people feel able to speak openly about how they are doing, they are more likely to remain engaged, supported and included.