While depression is treatable, many people with depression are unfortunately not seeking the care they need.  If you have been experiencing symptoms of depression, please talk to your health care provider.  If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, contact your health care provider immediately, dial 911, or contact your Emergency Medical Services.

If you have been diagnosed with depression, the following tips and resources are designed to help you on your journey with depression.

CREATE A PERSONALIZED BLUEPRINT
"Treatment for depression works.  But to get the most from treatment, find a doctor you can trust and work together as a team."
— Jesse H. Wright, M.D., Ph.D.

Elements of a depression blueprint may include:

• Educating yourself about the illness
• Developing a close working relationship with your health care professional
• Working with a health care professional to find a treatment plan you can stick with
• Tapping into a network of loved ones and local support groups
• Using a symptom diary or tracker as a guide for conversations with your health care professional

STAY INVOLVED WITH YOUR FAVORITE ACTIVITIES
"When I was depressed, I was overwhelmed by even the smallest daily activities, but tackling them bit by bit, or one at a time, gave me a sense of accomplishment and allowed me to stay connected to the things I enjoyed most."
— Paige Hemmis, designer on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition™

Below are some resources that may help you manage your depression and get back to doing what you enjoy most:

• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Toolkit — a toolkit with facts about depression and resources to educate your friends and family about the condition
• Blueprint for Hope Progress Tracker — a weekly tracker to record your depression symptoms over time and chronicle your treatment journey. This should be used as a guide for talking with your health care professional.

  This document is in PDF (portable document format). PDF files require Adobe® Reader®; click here to download this free program.

• Click here for more information about a treatment option.

TAP INTO COMMUNITY SUPPORT NETWORKS
"People with depression should feel empowered to seek support not only from their physicians but also from their peers, loved ones, and communities.  It often takes a broad support network to help people stick to their treatment plan and maintain their journey."
— Peter Ashenden, president, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), which has more than 1,000 support groups worldwide, is proud to participate in the Blueprint for Hope campaign and help coordinate events in several local communities across the country.  At these events, Paige will share her story and demonstrate do-it-yourself (DIY) projects to provide inspiration and motivation to people with depression.  A doctor and DBSA representative will also be on hand to provide information about support groups and additional resources for managing depression.

Click here to see if Blueprint for Hope is coming to a city near you!