I have written a picture story on anxiety and depression that I would like to share with you. It's called DEPRESSED! ME? and first appeared in Dutch. (I live in Holland.) The book is 50 pages and contains photos and other pictures with subtitles. It is an easy read. In fact, people have said that it is the first book on depression that can be read by people who are depressed themselves. I was a little surprised to hear that some found the story inspirational. 'Your book has made me realize I can do something about my problem,' someone wrote to me.
I work for a mental health organisation in Amsterdam, travelling round the country to give informative talks about anxiety and depression. It is my experience that relatives or friends of depressed people better understand what people go through when they hear someone's personal account. The English and German translations were primarily aimed at foreign people living in the Netherlands, but the foreign language versions now seem to be finding their way abroad, which makes me proud and happy. I sincerely hope that you may find the book useful as well. If you like it, please forward the URL to your relatives and other people who are involved. After all, one in five people gets depressed during their lifetime, and it may open their eyes a little wider.
DEPRESSED! ME? can be easily downloaded at http://www.depressiefik.nl. Click on the English tab for a brief introduction, then download the booklet by activating the cuckoo image.
