Information

Depression (PDF File – Feel free to reprint)
This booklet from the National Institute of Mental Health describes the symptoms of depression, treatment such as medication and therapies, how to get help, and more.

Men and Depression (PDF File – Feel free to reprint)
This booklet from the National Institute of Mental Health discusses issues with men and depression.

Women and Depression (PDF File – Feel free to reprint)
This booklet from the National Institute of Mental Health discusses issues with women and depression.

Depression (Mayo Clinic staff, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 10/29/09)
This gives you a synopsis about the symptoms and causes, traditional and alternative treatment, prevention, and other information (including an interactive depression self-assessment tool). The Mayo Clinic is used as source material for other websites and publications. Following each chapter are links to related topics, which are different among the chapters. There are also options to look at depression in-depth, get expert answers and resources, see what’s new, and more.

Depression – National Institute of Mental Health
This gives you a summary of depression and its causes and treatment, some of the co-existing illnesses, the difference in depression experience among women, men, older adults, and children and adolescents, how to help yourself or someone else who is either depressed or in crisis, and more. The NIMH is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It is a research-based institution whose mission is to prevent and cure diseases. They are often cited in other websites and publications. For a PDF version of this information, click here.

SAMHSA’s Mental Health Information Center
SAMHSA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). They have thousands of reports, publications, papers, and other products that can be downloaded from the site or ordered for free. They also have links to other research databases, advocacy and support groups, and a treatment locator.

Depression and the Elderly – National Institute of Aging
The elderly no longer need to feel alone in the fight against depression. The National Institute on Aging takes a look at how and why elderly are affected by depression and treatment options.

Depression and African Americans – Mental Health America
Mental Health America extinguishes myths about African Americans and Depression.

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry – Depression Resources
Recognizing signs of depression in children may appear somewhat different than it would in
adults. “The Resource Guide” explains the causes, signs and symptoms, and a rough time frame
for improvement after the start of treatment.

Getting Help

Help for Depression
Help for Depression provides a very comprehensive explanation of the various approaches and treatments for depression as a critical starting point for individuals and/or their loved ones. The site highlights a combination of therapies aimed at treating depression to help you or someone else seek treatment.

Advocacy Organizations

National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse
This organization, located in Philadelphia, PA, collects news and journal articles on a number of different mental health topics, has original publications, links, resources, training, and technical assistance.

National Alliance on Mental Illness: Depression
NAMI is a grassroots mental health advocacy organization with local chapters. Their cornerstone activities are awareness, education, and advocacy. Here you will learn about depression, its symptoms, causes, and diagnosis, medication and treatment, questions and answers from a doctor, and links to additional depression resources. They have a collection of resources for women and depression, as well as more information regarding depression in different age groups, cultural identities, and sexual and gender identities. NAMI’s home page is http://www.nami.org.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
This is a patient-directed national organization that educates, advocates, and researches the most prevalent mental conditions. There is information on depression (including an online screening tool to help you assess your level of depression and if you should seek help), ranging from an overview of the signs and symptoms to more detailed instructions if you have been newly diagnosed and tools on managing your own self-recovery, what to do if you or a loved one is in a crisis, and support groups, referral links, information about clinical trials, training, seminars, and much more.

Mental Health America (MHA) (formerly the National Mental Health Association)
Community-based network with affiliates. One of their primary goals is public education. Another is action and advocacy on a national level. They have concise information about depression and address insurance reimbursement, including appealing denials.

International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression (iFred)
Linked news articles, organizational links and information about the effects of the body’s hormones on depression and animal companions are some of the things you will find on this website.

Families for Depression Awareness
Their mission is to give families information about depressive disorders in order to recognize, cope, and recover, and prevent suicides. They provide education, outreach, and advocacy to families in the form of media campaigns, community outreach, speaking engagements, depression wellness guides, and a Mental Health Family Tree program to help uncover familial behaviors to better diagnose and anticipate bipolar disorder, to name a few services.

Annual Screening

depression-screening.org
This site, sponsored by Mental Health America (formerly the National Mental Health Association), has information in digestible pieces and has an online depression screening test. Mental health America is a co sponsor of the National Depression Screening Day, in which hospitals, online sites, and other organizations offer free depression screening, educational materials, free consultation with a mental health professional to discuss your results, and a list of local referral sources where you can receive treatment. National Depression Screening Day 2010 will be on Thursday, October 7.

Articles

Patient Information: Depression treatment options for adults (Katon, W., & P. Ciechanowski, UpToDate 8/22/08)
Informative article with specific information about the different treatment options and how long it should take to see results from them. UpToDate has articles for both patients and professionals. You can see some articles in their entirety and others as an abstract unless you purchase a subscription: http://www.uptodate.com.

Videos

What is Depression?
Symptoms, causes, and treatment of depression.

Do I Have Depression?
Identifying and diagnosing depression.

Depression Treatment: Therapy
The different treatment options for depression.

Depression
This video from the National Institutes of health explores depression.

Depression Expert
An expert from Britain’s National Health Service describes the different levels of depression and explains the difference between having a bad day and being depressed.

Clinical Depression: Lawrence’s Story
In this video from Britain’s National Health Service, Lawrence, a psychiatric nurse, explains how easy it was to ignore the symptoms of depression and how the illness affected his work life.

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