Health Beyond the Blog: “The Martian” by Andy Weir

Mental Health and Coping Strategies in Andy Weir’s “The Martian”

by Diyya Ganju

I’m not sure what drew my middle school self to the worn-down copy of The Martian in the used bookstore. This well-known novel quickly became my favorite book. I can now quote it line by line.

The Martian, written in 2014 by Andy Weir, follows the story of Mark Watney, an American astronaut stranded on Mars. He is forced to overcome extreme challenges to reunite with his crew and return to Earth. 

Weir breaks down scientific jargon into understandable terms for the reader to understand the complexities behind space travel. The flashbacks throughout the story, combined with the dialogue, fully transports the reader into Weir’s world.  

The Martian became more tangible to me during COVID-19, when mental awareness became more widespread.   

Watney experiences symptoms of depression, including hopelessness, emotional numbness, and feelings of isolation. While many of these symptoms were unavoidable due to his circumstances, Watney uses his positive attitude and humor to fight off his depression and, ultimately, stay alive. This is a real stress-management strategy, as correcting negative and self-defeating beliefs can help maintain mental health to cope with trauma and stress. 

Watney made reestablishing communication with members of his mission his most important priority after basic needs, to the surprise of many readers. He comes up with a creative way to repurpose an old rover, after much trial and error, allowing him to communicate with Mission Control back on Earth. 

Watney’s emotional need to connect with other humans applies to all of us. Social support is an important coping skill for surviving trauma and managing depression. Watney’s difficulties can be viewed as an analogy of how reaching out for support is often difficult for those coping with trauma or depression, though we may not have to traverse Mars to reconstruct a rover to experience this.

Watney prioritizes self-care throughout the novel, another important way to take care of mental health. He made sure to get a full night’s sleep, even when he was overwhelmed, knowing this would help him to feel more settled in the morning. He makes time to listen to music, watch TV, and write journal entries to balance the strenuous tasks of his days. If an astronaut stranded on Mars can take the time to protect his mental health, then the rest of us really have no excuse to not do the same. 

The Martian is available on Amazon and Bookshop.org.