Mental Health Resource Foundation Newsletter

Report Card - May 2005 - Depression
MentalHealthLibrary.info
Call 1.800.723.1760 or Email Info@MentalHealthLibrary.info or Write PO Box 3074 Ogden, UT 84409

The Problem
"‘I say unto all, be of good cheer...; for I am in your midst, and I have not forsaken you’ (D&C 61:36). All people have experienced situations in their life that resulted in them feeling ‘down’ or ‘blue.’ These feelings usually pass and are a normal part of our life experience. However, if depressive feelings become too severe or last too long, then depression becomes a clinical problem and requires intervention. There are several types of depression, and in most cases all can be treated with medication and therapy." This LDS perspective on Depression is located on the LDS Family Services website Providentliving.org.

LDS Resources
There are several favorite Church articles on depression pointing out the need for medicine and therapy as well as the healing power of the Gospel. They are: G. G. Vandagriff, “Escaping My Valley of Sorrow,” Ensign, Mar. 2000; Shanna Ghaznavi, “Rising Above the Blues,” New Era, Apr. 2002; Val D. MacMurray, “When Life Is Getting You Down,” Ensign, June 1984; and David G. Weight, “Why Is My Wife (Or Husband) Depressed?” Ensign, Mar. 1990. All of these can be found on our website.

Another popular resource for LDS persons suffering from depression is located on the Internet. Yahoo provides a nonprofessional Internet discussion group identified as LDS Depression Support for those persons seeking support. Prior to participation the person must sign up. Signing up for this Internet support group requires disclosing some personal information and agreeing to “Terms of Service.”

This is a very active discussion board averaging 1500 or more messages posted per month. This support group is not sanctioned by LDS Church, but rather a resource for its members.

Reaching for Hope: An LDS Perspective on Recovering from Depression by Meghan Decker and Betsy Chatlin is one resource written specifically for LDS persons experiencing depression. Written from a uniquely LDS point of view, this informative and inspirational book offers important clinical information for dealing with the disease, including an overview of the symptoms of depression and suggestions for choosing a therapist, considering the use of medication, and finding hope to move forward—one step at a time.

Foundation Website
In Alexander Morrison’s recent book, “Valley of sorrow: A layman's guide to understanding mental illness” and at various public talks, he identifies myths associated with mental illness. For example, he presented to Pioneer Welfare Region Leaders, in Salt Lake City UT, April 21, 2001 and noted one myth as “Mentally-ill Persons Just Lack Will-Power.” There are some who, in their lack of understanding and empathy, mistakenly believe that the mentally ill just need to ‘snap out of it, show a little backbone and get on with life.’ Those who believe that way display a grievous lack of knowledge and compassion. The facts are that seriously mentally ill persons simply cannot, through an exercise of will, get out of the predicament they are in. They need help, encouragement, understanding and love.

Anyone who has ever witnessed the incredible, well-nigh unbearable pain of a severe panic attack, knows full well that nobody would suffer that way if all that was needed was to show a little willpower. No one who has witnessed the almost indescribable sadness of a severely depressed person, who perhaps can't even get out of bed, who cries all day or retreats into hopeless apathy, or tries to kill himself, would ever think for a moment that mental illness is just a problem of willpower. We don't say to persons with heart disease or cancer, ‘just grow up and get over it.’ Neither should we treat the mentally ill in such an uncompassionate and unhelpful way.” Elder Morrison’s entire talk can be found on the Foundation website

There are numerous excellent non-LDS, Christian resources available on the Internet as well. Perhaps the best are those located on Family.Org. This website is sponsored by Focus On The Family. For example, the article How to Help When Your Spouse Is Depressed provides an excellent guide on understanding and dealing with depression.

Visitors Around the World We have had visitors from over 60 different countries access our Foundation website. We are excited that the Foundation is able to help people from around the world.