Growing from Depression starts with a fairly in-depth look at the definition, diagnosis and causes of depression. The author's background as a philosopher is evident, particularly in the chapter ‘Whom does depression affect?’, where consideration is given to the types of characters who experience depression and whether an episode of depression might actually confer a benefit. An open-minded approach is encouraged, allowing readers to turn their experience into an opportunity to identify and overcome challenging problems in their lives.

The chapter on available treatments is relatively short, but provides a clear and concise summary of psychological and pharmacological therapies and of electroconvulsive therapy, helping to demystify the different approaches.

The self-help section provides straightforward, practical advice on simple things that people can do to fight depression. There are specific chapters dealing with a range of problems such as anxiety, suicide, relationships and substance misuse. The final section, ‘Mental healthcare services and the law’, is an excellent addition, providing clarification on areas that might be confusing or even threatening to those experiencing depression such as the Mental Health Act and Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency guidelines. It includes some useful advice for carers.

Unfortunately, the flipside of being a thorough account is that the target audience may be put off by the length of the book and the fact that it is made up largely of text, the benefit of which will only be felt by employing a considerable degree of concentration. However, efforts have been made to separate paragraphs with subheadings and to include summary boxes and illustrations, and the individual chapters read well as stand-alone texts.

Self-help is not for everyone, but this book is a comprehensive, sympathetic and thought-provoking guide for those who want to explore their depression in more depth and who are motivated to make long-term changes in their ways of thinking and their lifestyle. I can also recommend it as an informative read for carers of people with depression, and for junior doctors in psychiatry.