The statistics are alarming. One in four Canadians will need treatment for depression at some time in their life--but only a third of those people will ever seek help. While depression is quickly catching up to heart disease as the greatest worldwide cause of disability, its seriousness often goes unrecognized.
The Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction and BC Mental Health and Addictions Services have published a self-help guide to provide information about depression and strategies that can be helpful in managing depression. This guide is helpful for:
Individuals with depressed mood
Concerned partners, family members or friends who want to help an individual struggling with depressed mood
Description:
"The Antidepressant Skills Workbook (ASW) gives an overview of depression, explains how it can be effectively managed according to the best available research and gives a step-by-step guide to changing patterns that trigger depression.
In this self-care guide, we show how to use cognitive and behavioural methods to make important changes in thinking and actions that help one to emerge from depression and make it less likely to recur.
These methods can be used in combination with depression treatments, increasing their effectiveness.
Note that for most people with serious depression, the use of this self-help guide alone will not be sufficient to resolve the depression. People with major depression should obtain treatment with antidepressant medication or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy."
The workbook is available FREE is available online (can be viewed on-screen or printed, or listened to, or downloaded as an audio workbook.
Copies are available in English, French, Punjabi, Chinese, Vietnamese, or Farsi.
English version--Download here (PDF)
French version--Download here (PDF) (Guide d'autosoins pour la dépression)
Punjabi version--Download here (PDF)
Chinese version--Download here (PDF)
Vietnamese version--Download here (PDF)
Farsi version--Download here (PDF)