This Is Depression: A Comprehensive, Compassionate Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Understand Depression

I bought this book after listening to a presentation from the author and I have found it to be so helpful both personally and professionally. It really helps to break down mental health and treatments in easy to understand ways. I finished it within a few days!

An extremely informative book written by a compassionate psychiatrist. It’s very clearly written and easy to read yet appropriate for wide audiences - people who live with depression, their friends/family and health professionals. I have read other books about depression and this is one of the very best. If I could have recommended anything else in future editions it would be more content from neuroscience about what happens in the brain of someone who is depressed and how what is known from neuroscience can aid recovery. However, I still highly recommend this book.

As a nurse, I thought I knew a lot about mental illness. This book brings my knowledge to a whole different level. It is very reader friendly and explains very complicated concepts in an understandable way. I personally know Diane and she is an incredible human who is a master of mental health and its surrounding topics like medication and physical health. I just bought six more books to share with friends and family. Highly, highly recommend.

Dr. Macintosh is an excellent communicator. I have attended many of her lectures given to family doctors. She now has put her knowledge and expertise in writing for the general public. As a clinician, I find this handbook very engaging. It is comprehensive with the scientific information written in plain language and illustrated by real-life stories. She discusses symptoms and signs of depression and the rationale for medication and psychotherapy. I have borrowed the plain language in the book to help my patients to understand their condition. The detailed information on medications has also helped me to explain the rationale for medications and how medications and psychotherapy can enhance the treatment.. I have recommended this handbook to my patients and their loved ones. A mother of a teenager who I am treating was 'Wowed" by the information in the book. She now has a much better understanding of what her daughter is going through. She is more empathetic and supportive. The book has dispelled her misunderstanding and fear of the side-effect and addiction risk of antidepressants, and has consented to the use of medication. The teenager herself has gained more insight and can relate to the real-life experiences in the book.I highly recommend this handbook to people who are suffering depression and their love-ones. This book is also a good tool for family physicians to have a better approach to counseling patients.

This is excellent still current information for both mental health professionals and the general public.