Keyword: depressive

I’ve written blog entries here before about the Antidepressant Skills Workbook, a free evidence-based self-care tool developed over a decade ago, which can be downloaded in English, French, Punjabi, Chinese, Farsi and Vietnamese; and also as an audio book (sadly, only in English so far). Also available for free download on that site are versions of the workbook focused on mood self-control for the workplace

In a previous piece for Quintessence, I wrote about Supported Self Management (SSM) for mood problems, surprisingly effective despite minimal cost and easy implementation. SSM involves teaching patients evidence-based methods for dealing with depression more effectively. The patient is provided with the Antidepressant Skills Workbook along with some support from a healthcare professional, peer support worker or family member. The skills taught in the workbook are based on cognitive behavioural therapy.

A province as large as Ontario poses significant challenges to anyone trying to get a handle on the policy landscape for mental health and addictions. Nevertheless, it’s an honour to have an opportunity to contribute to Qualaxia, and over the course of my next few blogs, I hope to offer an overview of some of the key documents informing the Ontario context.

Depression has long been more readily associated with women because, for some, “real men don’t get depressed”. This belief is addressed in an Australian initiative[1] to battle depression, which reflects an international trend: health promotion campaigns that challenge traditional male norms. Why? For the simple reason that men who are more traditional and rigid in […]

Supported Self-Management (SSM) for mood problems is a form of intervention in which: distressed individuals are provided with workbooks or websites designed to teach behavioural skills for mood self-management; and a healthcare provider or other supporter acts as a coach to help learn and apply the self-management skills. This intervention has shown an impressive degree of effectiveness for common mental health problems of mild to moderate severity.

Because of their high recurrence, experts now consider depressive and anxiety disorders to be chronic illnesses. Supported self-management (SSM) is an essential component in the Chronic Care Model, a standard to strive for when providing care for people with chronic illnesses, both physical and mental. Most clinical practice guidelines also recommend SSM for treating depressive and anxiety disorders (NICE, CANMAT).

Supported Self-Management (SSM) is gaining increasing recognition as an essential component in the treatment of people suffering from anxiety and depressive disorders. Most practice guidelines (NICE, CANMAT) recommend it. Finally, it is also part of the Chronic Care Model, which is progressively more popular for both physical illnesses and mental disorders.