According to a study undertaken by the University of Glasgow; 2000 people diagnosed with Depression have made considerable steps towards feeling ‘better’, and have been able to manage their Depression with only the use of self help books.
Yes, the humble SELF HELP BOOK.
However, maybe these books aren’t the miracle they are being deemed to be as half of the studies participants were also receiving Anti-Depressants too.
So, is it possible that a few months with a self help book as your companion, and a a couple of sessions with an adviser (who informs you how to get the most out of this literature), really be the ultimate ‘cure’?
Well, the NHS think so. They seem willing to invest in this treatment, and no wonder as it is claimed this approach could save the NHS £272m and the public sector £700m. A considerable sum of money.
Yet is this just another quick fix being employed to rid the NHS of waiting lists for much needed Psychological treatments?
After all medications are readily prescribed by GPs to those patients waiting, and waiting, and waiting for therapies such as counselling. So perhaps another prescription, albeit in the form of self books wouldn’t be that unusual.
The truth is though that the demand for Psychological treatments is so extreme that the NHS cannot keep up with the referrals being made, and the investment required. Anti-Depressants, or any prescription can be used as a stop gap, a plaster for a deeper wound; therefore removing people from any waiting list which would lead to more money being spent. Yet, wouldn’t the cost be less if the true and deep seated issues were actually being addressed instead of bypassed by drugs and books?
These Anti-Depressant prescriptions actually cost the NHS £16m, but these drugs solve none of the patients real issues; 2 thirds of patients don’t respond to the medication at all. So, why are the NHS willing to waste more money on a dead end, but not a ‘cure’ which Psychological therapies can provide?
How can self help books therefore be contenders, when it has been proven that therapies like CBT are actually what is required?
Is it a case of considering a joined up response? What doesn’t work for one may indeed be beneficial to another? Perhaps; as everyone responds differently to different treatments. Or, maybe it is another save money quick scam.
WHAT DO YOU THINK??? SHARE WITH ME YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS COMPLEX TOPIC…….
Would you be happy for your GP to prescribe a self help book instead of CBT???
Have self help books worked for you??
Do you think medication alone is the answer??
Is it right that the NHS should cut its funding for Psychological therapies??
HAVE YOUR SAY NOW!
The Savvy Senorita 
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Related and relevant, although not so at first glance:
Many years ago I was part of a monthly discussion group. There were some high-powered minds and achievers there but they had no good answers when a young woman (obviously an educator) asked—seriously—how can you raise the self-esteem of a young person?
My own answer was so obvious I almost didn’t give it (suspecting a trap)(they had good humour and were always setting each other up). I gave it when pressed, to the effect:
“Do not praise the subject—no medals, no badges, no certificates … set the guy/guyette a task. A task that you know is within his capabilities but only just so; a task that will really challenge the little bugger but which is meaningful … then get out of his way and leave him to it.”
Nothing lifts morale and cures the droop so much as achievement. Genuine achievement, the greater the accomplishment the greater the lift.
Then again, you can always go guzzle valium if that’s what your local Medical pusher recommends … feeling down? Get out there and chop a load of logs for the widow down the road. Go for a run or brisk hike. DO something.
Setting and achieving goals certainly can make a difference and provide a point or path to a life. I suppose some people lose this though somewhere, and do need something outside of themselves to re-connect.
Tackling any mental illness shouldn’t rely merely on pills though, which often it does. I think different things will work for different people though.
I do agree that activity can definitely work too; exercise or occupation in some task can change a person’s feelings and mind set.
Bex 🙂
I don’t believe that medication alone is enough to cope with any mental illness. Certainly, there are some I’m aware of where it is ‘mandatory’ that the person takes their as regularly as prescribed.
I’m one of the two-thirds who hasn’t responded to anti-depressants in the past. I don’t know what else a GP could prescribe to cope with depression and anxiety (beta-blockers?) but, from experience, they only seem to refer the ‘severe’ cases these days towards the direction of the NHS.
That said and, as I’ve told you in an e-mail or two, Bex; the doctor I recently saw has put me on the road to potentially-free CBT with the NHS via a different road of self-referral.
From reading a lot of other blogs, I’ve learnt that the main problem with CBT (and other therapies) is that people will too often fall in to a relapse once the course of sessions has ended.
Self-help books can provide you with a starting point, I believe; an introduction that may well require intervention in order for the story or journey to progress. Whenever I’ve seen a doctor about any issue, they usually print out a leaflet or a few pages with instruction or information. Do they also do this with mental health issues?
One thing I do believe is that help should be available for those who need it.
Hello, thanks for your response. I am happy to have had your input into this topic.
Yes, it is interesting to note the amount of people unresponsive to medication. You have mentioned this to me before. I do think that GP’s are stuck as to what they can prescribe. It seems the usual meds are plied for profit, not necessarily the results they produce.
Meds are a quick fix for sure. As you have stated; usually only severe cases get the referrals for treatment, so what else is left as an option but meds? What you have been offered though, is a good option. I sincerely hope it will come to fruition for you, and be beneficial.
Yes, they provide leaflets about mental health. I have seen them; usually they are via NHS or also counselling facilities such as through MIND.
I also agree and always believed that about CBT – in fact I think I have had some point stated this myself (probably on WordPress). It is a treatment where some people relapse. It is a behaviour modifier; skills are provided to help individuals take steps to overcome issues. Yet, the real issue causing the problems aren’t addressed. I think CBT is excellent for phobias, but perhaps not always the case for depression. Depression is usually related to a topic, circumstance and experience; not necessarily and irrational fear.There is no after support either; a few weeks of intense confrontation of the issue is not enough to redress the reasons you are left with that caused the issue in the first place.
Treatment for all – most definitely!!!
As a teenager I was on antidepressants. Family problems became too much for me to deal with and my Mom was worried about my mental state but didn’t know how to help so she got our doctor to prescribe something for me. I really didn’t like taking those pills. They gave me stomach aches and made me feel like a zombie. In fact, I don’t remember much of what happened between the ages of 15-16. Once I stopped taking ’em I became much more serious about my guitar playing and writing. Music, writing and literature helped me much more than those pills ever could.
Hi buddhkist, thanks for stopping by my blog. Thank you also for your considered comment, and sharing your experience.
I can see how medication could effect someone that way. I don’t feel such meds are a good thing for anyone as a ‘cure all’ treatment; but especially for someone so young.
I am happy you found peace of mind, and an outlet in your creativity though. For me, that is a saving grace too – expressing yourself and self discovery often lend to well-being.
Thanks once again, and hope you drop by soon!
Bex 🙂
Pingback: Best Self Help Books For Women | Self Help Inspiration
I could say A LOT on this topic – but for now…BOOKS HAVE NO NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS!!!!
-Paul
I know, I thought as much Paul. Please feel free to add your thoughts and experiences to this as and when. I would appreciate your input on this. Indeed, they don’t have any negative side effects, as opposed to medication. Bex 🙂
Ah I will – there is just sooooo much to say!! Where to start?!
Well, how about your experience with prescription medicines, the nightmares of securing reliable and ‘safe’ counselling or self help books you could recommend??? I do feel strongly about available, accessible and good therapy; there just isn’t enough of it to go around. I also wonder how many people have horror stories to tell about bad therapists?
I could write a book serious on that! Haha, but all jokes aside I am very much against biological psychiatry. Put simply, the medications marketed to “depressed” people, such as myself, are not proven to be effective nor are they safe. Big Pharma is in there to make money, not to help people – at least that is the case in the US.
Now, the right type of therapy for a person would vary depending upon their individual needs. At least, that is what I would say. So I am not against therapy, but I do not think “one-size-fits-all” talk therapy is good or effective for most people.
What is most important is that people learn to take care of themselves, with the help of friends and family, but at the end of the day, only one person is living your life, you. Of course, this is not to say force people with special needs to fend for themselves, but rather this is to say we each need to take as best care of our selves as possible. This is also not to think you can do it all by yourself either, there is some sort of “happy medium” here.
Books – yes there are good books out there, but any that I would recommend to just anybody, especially without knowing anything about them, are a limited bunch. One would be “Unstuck” by James Gordon – an excellent book on general depression that will help ANYBODY. He is not completely against medications, but only for very extreme, unusual cases.
I would tell anybody who is stuck in a depression to read that book, without a doubt or any hesitation. There is no better book, at least not one that I have come across, that is even close to having what “Unstuck” offers. Check it out on amazon!
Well. there is SOME food for thought!
-Paul
Hey, thanks for this food for thought!
Yeah, indeed medication does make big money for companies; also it takes pressure of GP’s to refer to other treatments. Meds are not always the best path to pursue.
I also think that there isn’t a one size fits all therapy too; it is definitely variant.
I like your comment; “important is that people learn to take care of themselves, with the help of friends and family, but at the end of the day, only one person is living your life, you” – so true!!!!!
Of course any support network is crucial – which can hinder or help depending on the network!
Thanks for the book recommendation too – I think anything that can help, motivate or challenge thinking patterns is a great thing.
Thanks for all your input and the info; Bex 🙂
My pleasure, Bex!!
-Paul
🙂
Almost … reading the Bible always makes me want to vomit …
Touche! Haha
Well said. CBT definitely works. In my opinion one of the best self help books out there is Dr. Michael Edelstein’s, ‘Three Minute Therapy’: http://www.ThreeMinuteTherapy.com based on the work of Albert Ellis.
Thanks Malcolm for that recommendation. I hoped someone would suggest a worthwhile self help book. I have never been a fan of such books, but can definitely see how they could have a place, and be beneficial in helping a person heal.Thanks again, Bex
To: Malcolm Greenhill
We enjoyed your comments about THREE MINUTE THERAPY by Dr. Michael Edelstein. He receives e-mails, letters and reviews from around the world. He shared your comments with us this morning. Thank you for your gracious words. Michael was honored with Author of the Year for this book by the NACBT, recently honored in Indonesia, and has appeared in and on the media more than 300 times.
Feel free to check out our website: http://www.glenbridgepublishing.com
Having the pleasure of being Dr. Edelstein’s publisher along with more than 50 plus authors in our publishing family, it is rewarding to know that people have been helped with an excellent book.
Best regards,
Mary Keene/President
Glenbridge Publishing Ltd.
Thank you Mary for your follow up comment to Malcolm’s. As a writer interested in Psychological therapies and issues, I am interested in any new information that can help readers, and offer them professional advice. Malcolm was kind enough to recommend ‘Three Minute Therapy’ as such information. I am therefore happy to include Dr Edelstein’s work within my blog article.
Regards, Bex