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If you or someone you know are struggling with depression, you’re not alone. According to the World Health Organization, over 300 million people worldwide have depression, a leading cause of disability. Depression, which is often paired with anxiety, can make it difficult to function and carry out day-to-day routines; in extreme cases, the condition can lead to suicide.
The World Health Organization notes that while there are many treatments for depression, less than half of those affected seek or receive help. A lack of financial resources or a lack of access to trained doctors and therapists can keep people from receiving the help they need. In some cases, the stigma associated with mental illness can also discourage people from seeking help or even admitting that they need help.
Books have long offered an escape into another world, allowing readers to forget about their problems and concerns. Self-help books obviously offer readers practical advice on ways to improve their lives, but novels and works are valuable to all readers — particularly those who are dealing with depression. While therapy and medication play an important role in treating it, more people (therapists included) are recognizing the value that reading can have in treating this mood disorder.
Books as Therapy for Depression
Authors and fans of reading have often acknowledged the therapeutic value that books can provide, but now reading is officially being recognized as a form of therapy. The London-based School of Life, founded by author Alain De Botton, offers a bibliotherapy program available to patients worldwide. Patients consult with bibliotherapists who then prescribe books of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and philosophy that can help patients work through feelings stemming from depression and anxiety.
While poetry and philosophy books are sometimes prescribed by bibliotherapists, fiction in general offers unique benefits that can help people to better cope with depression. When we read fiction, we can establish an emotional connection with a character. Their sorrows are our sorrows, but we also share in their joys and triumphs. A happy ending can leave us feeling joy, and we can learn to cope with disappointments and losses in ways that we might not otherwise discover on our own.
Books also offer us the quiet, self-paced time to think and to process, in contrast to the fast-paced world of movies and television. When reading, we have the chance to envision worlds as we want to see them, exercising our creativity and allowing us to briefly step out of our own lives. For many reasons, books can be an excellent complement to medical treatments for depression. A simple trip to the library can provide hours of entertainment and comfort.
The Illiteracy Barrier
Reading may be a valuable tool for those with depression, but illiteracy in the United States means that many people cannot enjoy the benefits of reading. According to Concordia University, half of all adults in the United States can’t read a book that is written at an eighth-grade reading level, and approximately 32 million adults can’t read at all. Additionally, one in four children in the United States grows up without ever learning how to read.
Illiteracy has a sobering effect on a child’s future; Concordia University states that two-thirds of children who can’t read proficiently by the time they complete the fourth grade will either end up in jail or will be on welfare. With almost 85% of juveniles who go on trial being functionally illiterate, it’s easy to understand the importance of literacy programs and support for students who struggle with reading. This valuable skill can shape a child’s future and overall success.
Additional Ways to Manage and Treat Depression
While reading can help those struggling with depression, you can’t rely on reading alone to treat it. It’s important to treat mental health issues since they can lead to a host of other medical issues such as weight loss, diabetes, heart disease, headaches, and unexplained pains. Depression can also cause other health issues such as erectile dysfunction in men.
There are plenty of ways you can manage your mental health and improve your overall well-being. Meditation, exercise, and plenty of sleep can have a tremendous effect on your quality of life. Therapy and medication can also help to manage depression symptoms, and reading can make a great addition to any management program.
If you’re struggling with depression, reading is an accessible, low-cost resource that offers many benefits. However, if your symptoms do not improve or you ever have thoughts of suicide, please seek out a medical professional to get additional help. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America offers an online database of therapists, and your health insurance company may also be able to help you find a therapist.
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