"Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for short periods. Clinical depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for weeks or more." (National Institute of Health, 2016) Below you will find resources that help you better understand different kinds of depression, signs and symptoms, and available treatment.
To learn more about different forms of depression, visit:
RESOURCES
The Science of Happiness. This six-part BBC series looks at the newest research from around the world to find out what could it be that makes us happy.
What is depression? In this TedEd video, Helen M. Farrell examines the symptoms and treatments of depression, and gives some tips for how you might help a friend who is suffering.
The Winter Blues: Here in the Inland Northwest, our perpetually grey skies through Fall, Winter, and Spring are legendary. Toughing out long stretches of dreary days can lead to the Winter Blues or even Seasonal Affective Disorder. Learn more about the legitimate impact the dreary weather can have on your mental health.
When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times. A collection of talks given by author Pema Chödrön, the book is a treasury of wisdom for going on living when we are overcome by pain and difficulties.
Positive Psychology. Focused on shedding light on what makes humans thrive rather than what makes us deprived, positive psychologists have conducted research and developed interventions in the pursuit of positive psychological treatment for mental health problems.
Mental Health Resource Center. The JED Foundation is the nation’s leading non-profit organization that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for young adults. The Mental Health Resource Center offers many resources for learning more about mental health and how to have a conversation with a friend.
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DSBA). The DBSA is a comprehensive resource for more than 23 million people in the U.S. who live with mood disorders.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America. The ADAA is an international nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment, and cure of anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and co-occurring disorders through education, practice, and research.
APPS
Apps can be helpful to help develop skillsets to navigate depression, but not treat it. On-campus and off-campus resources are also available to help support you with any concerns you may have in this area.
What’s Up. This app uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) methods to help you cope with Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and more. Use the positive and negative habit tracker to maintain your good habits, and break those that are counterproductive. We particularly love the “Get Grounded” page, which contains over 100 different questions to pinpoint what you’re feeling, and the “Thinking Patterns” page, which teaches you how to stop negative internal monologues. Free on Android and iTunes.
eMoods. A mood tracking app designed specifically for people with bipolar disorder. Throughout the day, users can track depressive and psychotic symptoms, elevated mood, and irritability, and give an indication of the severity of their symptoms. Users can then see their mood changes on a color-coded monthly calendar and even export a monthly summary report to identify specific triggers and better understand their fluctuating mood. Free on Android and iTunes.
Happify. Need a happy fix? With its psychologist-approved mood-training program, the Happify app is your fast-track to a good mood. Try various engaging games, activity suggestions, gratitude prompts and more to train your brain as if it were a muscle, to overcome negative thoughts. Free on Android and iTunes.
MoodTools aims to support people with clinical depression by aiding the path to recovery. Discover helpful videos that can improve your mood and behavior, log and analyze your thoughts using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) principles, develop a suicide safety plan and more. Free on Android and iTunes.