Depression

Disorders and difficulties Therapies and practical advice Perspectives and controversies

The African American singer and pianist Nina Simone is pictured alone, singing against a spotlight that resembles a moon in the darkness. She has her eyes closed.

Emerging therapies

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Could that tingle down the spine be a way to rediscover joy?

In new research, scientists have looked into the potential benefits of giving people with depression the aesthetic chills

by Shayla Love

A smiling family hold hands and play on a sunny beach with their retriever dog

Happiness

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As a psychiatrist, I’ve seen how chasing happiness leads to misery

My clinical work has shown me that happiness is a ghost that’s not worth pursuing – there are far wiser goals in life

by Rafa Euba

A still life painting featuring various fish, lobster, vegetables, a cat, hanging pots, and garlic, all arranged on a table with a white cloth.

Mental health

guide

How to use food to help your mood

Depression and low mood are not separate from the rest of your bodily health: the right diet can help reduce your risk

by Kimberley Wilson

A young man with a serious expression wearing a grey hoodie outdoors at dusk, with a blurred landscape and lights in the background.

Depression

film

Why Darius is testing mind and body to run 100 miles in the cold

Directed by Amar Chebib

A close-up of wilted orange flowers with drooping stems in a black vase against a blurred brown background.

Depression

idea

What’s going on in depression to make negative beliefs so sticky?

Understanding why negative views persist in the face of contradictory evidence could help inform depression treatment

by Tobias Kube

Photo of a person with a headset holding a device, looking at a cookbook on a sofa with magazines and a remote nearby.

Emerging therapies

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A personalised alternative to antidepressants is on the way

A form of personalised, at-home, brain-based treatment for depression is getting close – but is psychiatry ready for it?

by Paul Fitzgerald

Three red-and-white capsules on a light blue background.

Depression

guide

How to decide whether to take antidepressants

They’re controversial yet they help countless people. To see if pills are right for you, these are the questions to ask

by Stephen Lawrie

A child’s drawing of a person in front of a red door, playing a pink electric guitar with lightning bolts around them.

Parenting and families

film

Ethan ponders his daughter’s future without him in this celebrated short

Directed by Ethan Barrett

Photo of a person in a yellow jacket and turquoise hat running through a blurred forest path, conveying motion.

The body and physical health

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Even a single exercise session can help shift depression

The long-term benefits of regular exercise for mood are well-known. What’s surprising is that just one session can help

by Matthew Bourke & Rhiannon Patten

A person and two children stand on shore promenade, surrounded by seagulls, with a large water fountain and cityscape in the background.

Mental health

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Many people not only survive mental illness – they thrive

For people with depression, anxiety and other conditions, reaching high wellbeing – not just recovery – is a real possibility

by Jonathan Rottenberg & Andrew Devendorf

Two women hugging on a grassy hill, one in an orange jacket and the other in a yellow sweater, with mountains in the background.

Self-harm and suicide

guide

How to talk to a suicidal friend

Twice as many people worldwide die from suicide as from homicide. Here’s how to help your loved ones back from the brink

by Lindsay Weisner

Still image from a VHS tape depicting child and a woman blowing out birthday cake candles together, both wearing red, with people in the background.

Parenting and families

film

Love is no simple thing for a mother and the daughter she raised alone

Directed by Ellie Wen