A book that can be something added into the work you are doing or be the something that be one guide to what you are going to do. Get different things to consider or put in place to help you out.

Overall, this book is a great compilation of depression fighting tools. I like now research is interspersed throughout the book. There were a lot of writing activities and mindfulness/meditation activities that I did not really connect with since I do not like writing. I see how this would be a good book for professionals to read as well.

If you think of depression on a spectrum, on one end mild depression (maybe seasonal) and on the other end severely depressed (i.e. suicidal) - this book is geared towards people who are mild to moderately depressed. I can't see a severely depressed buying this book, doing the activities, having the concentration to read, or having the motivation to do any of what this book says. That does not mean that this book wouldn't benefit severely depressed people - just that I have a hard time seeing anyone super depressed having the motivation to reach for this book and try any of the activities. For example, my father is major depression disorder. He lays in bed all day with no stimulation (ex: no tv, music, pets, social interaction, books, etc.). He does not take care of his personal hygiene and has been 51-50'd multiple times. I could (and have) mentioned some of the activities noted in this book (like taking a hot shower, take a walk, start doing things he liked to do like swimming), but has my dad done any of these things? No. It's hard for depressed people to start with "just one step in the right direction" because they are so listless and hopeless they cannot see the point or have any feeling of joy. You can't make them take their anti-depressants or go to therapy or force them to do any of these activities.

Depressed people aren't dumb - most already know what they need to be doing or what will help them combat depressed (i.e. exercise, social interaction, focusing on the positive and things you are able to control, going outside, medication, therapy). This book goes into details about how to do those things, but it's not magic - it cannot make a depressed person do the anti-depression things. That is the rub with mental illness - you cannot fight the fight for someone else.

This is a nice basic toolkit for quick relief for individuals who may be experiencing depression. It is pretty known information but can be helpful if you are feeling down and not thinking as clearly. I would recommend this for individuals with mild depression but not severe depression. Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC.

I am a mental health nurse and psychotherapist, this book is suited to someone with low mood/ mild depression. It's easy to read and the recommendations are helpful. This book doesn't take the place of a qualified professional and is quite brief but is a great reference when you know the tools and need a refresher. </p>
<p><em>I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. </em></p>

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I am not a fan.
In spite of the research and reference list to show that effort was put into it, a lot of it was pretty much a no-brainer...HOWEVER, when a person is suffering from depression and you tell them to think happy thoughts, erm, what is the probability that just by doing that, things get better. I felt it was lacking in depth and just stated the obvious. There are better books outside.
And yes, i get it is a toolkit but really, this is not the toolkit for me when I feel low. I felt frustrated versus hopeful on getting out of the rut.

THE DEPRESSION TOOLKIT by William J Knaus, Alex Korb and others is designed to provide "Quick Relief to Improve Mood, Increase Motivation, and Feel Better Now." It actually contains 46 activities grouped into three parts: Find Refuge from Negative Thoughts; Get Unstuck when You’re Down; and Beat Hopelessness and Low Motivation. Within each activity (e.g., Identify Sticky Thoughts or Cope with Change) the authors describe what to know, what to do and/or more to do. Unfortunately, they take a rather authoritarian or prescriptive tone, relying heavily on list making and (painful?) introspection. While some of the exercises may be helpful, it is difficult to imagine a reader (particularly a teen, like our students) being self-motivated enough to follow through. Perhaps this toolkit could work in conjunction with more formal therapy, but with so many relevant resources available, it may be more worthwhile to explore works like The Comfort Book which is less task-oriented.

The Depression Toolkit is an amazing resource for someone to use when trying to combat negative thinking, obsessive thoughts, and feeling "down." This book provides the easiest, effective strategies to use when attempting to resolve these issues. The strategies are written in an easy to follow format, with anecdotes from real people so that you can see that the strategy has worked for others. This book is easy to follow and implement. You don't have to go through the book in a systematic fashion. You can look at the table of contents, see what you want to work on and go to that particular section. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

“The Depression Toolkit: Quick Relief to Improve Mood, Increase Motivation, and Feel Better Now” is better if working from beginning to end. Each chapter builds upon the other. There are suggestions and activities. Implement what you want. It only works when you put in the effort to improve yourself. You don’t have to follow what’s in the book to a tee. Take what you need, and leave the rest.

Some great advice/tips applicable to those who suffer from moderate depression. I've applied some of the insights into my and my young daughter's life and found them to be effective and helpful. Sometimes it takes some fresh perspective and guidance to make a significant shift. Highly recommend for anyone with mild depression. Book was short and easy to read, the real life examples were appreciated.

The Depression Toolkit by William Knaus, Alex Korb, Patricia J. Robinson, Lisa M. Schab, and Kirk D. Strosahl offers a combination of evidence-based tools to help readers with depression feel better.

It contains 46 activities divided into 5 sections: find refuge from negative thoughts, get unstuck when you’re down, beat hopelessness and low motivation, make easy habit changes that you’ll thank yourself for later, and deal with the tough stuff. Each activity begins with a “what to know” section followed by “what to do.” Most activities are 2-3 pages, so the book is short and easy to read.

There’s a strong cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) element. The book addresses topics like sleep, mindfulness, physical activity, avoidance, and accumulating positives. It’s quite practical and action-oriented, with various examples given of ways to implement the different strategies.

Something I’ve noticed in other CBT books, and in this book to some extent, is an air of certainty that the strategies described will always work without fail. I find that to be a bit of a turnoff, as nothing is guaranteed to work for everyone. There’s no mention of the possibility of needing to consider meds, managing suicidal thoughts, or what to do if the strategies in the book aren’t cutting it, so I think the book is probably aimed at the lower end of the depression severity spectrum.

If the book’s subtitle, Quick Relief to Improve Mood, Increase Motivation & Feel Better Now, sounds somewhat within reach for you, I can see this being a really good book. If you’re in the boat where that subtitle makes you think been there, done that, and it doesn’t work that way, then it’s probably not the right book for you.



I received a reviewer copy from the publisher through Netgalley.

A useful book during these stressful times.

This book is written by various experts in the mental health field. They offer tips grounded in common practices, such as CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and mindfulness. The book is designed to help readers navigate and change negative though patters and replace them with healthy habits. There's not a lot of fluff to the book, just multiple activities the reader can quickly utilize. However, I don't feel that this book should be considered a replacement for an actual in-person/online therapist.

46 activities providing readers with concrete sequences to take on should they feel depressed or desire to "feel better now." The authors execute this introductory overview wonderfully and in simple, layman terms readable by the general public. A highly recommended guide for those feeling blue or seeking to learn more about how to improve their mental health, especially during these uncertain times, while awaiting professional help or determine their personal need for it.