The Noonday Demon by Andrew Solomon, whose 1998 New Yorker article on depression garnered vast attention, confronts the challenge of defining the illness and the wide range of available drug treatments, the efficacy of alternative treatments, and the impact depression yhas on various demographic populations.
McLean Hospital’s Everything You Need to Know About Depression: “The condition’s dark feelings can be intense and overwhelming—whether it’s situational, seasonal, or persistent. With the right care, it can be managed and treated successfully” (2023).
Find Treatment & Community
Find a therapist: guidelines and a directory. If you are on a tight budget, Open Path Collective is a non-profit that allows therapists to provide affordable, in-office and online sessions with psychotherapy sessions between $40-$70 and $30 for student intern sessions.
Know What To Do In Emergencies
We all need some support sometimes. Locate a nearby peer group by connecting with your local NAMI chapter: there are groups for family members, too.
Nothing is more terrifying than a mental health crisis. If you live in New York City, 888 NYC WELL is a free, confidential help line for residents. You can call 24 hours a day/7 days a week. The staff of trained mental health professionals help callers find mental health and substance abuse services.
In 2022, a nationwide 988 suicide and crisis lifeline became an alternate option to 911. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSA) has a directory of local treatment resources on their website: FindTreatment.gov, a confidential and anonymous source of information for persons seeking treatment facilities in the United States or U.S. Territories for substance use/addiction and/or mental health problems.
The Buprenorphine Practitioner & Treatment Program Locator has information on locating practitioners and treatment programs authorized to treat opioids, such as heroin or prescription pain relievers.
Veterans can reach caring, qualified responders with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Many of them are Veterans themselves. Dial 988 then press 1, Text: 838255, veteranscrisisline.net