Depression

Acquainted with the night: a parent's quest to understand depression & bipolar disorder in his children / Raeburn, Paul.

New York: Broadway Books, 2004.

This memoir of a family stricken with the pain of depression and mania becomes a cathartic story that any reader can share, even as parents unlucky enough to be in a similar position will find it of immeasurable practical value in their own struggles with the child psychiatry establishment.

Can I catch it like a cold? : a story to help children understand a parent's depression / Kelbaugh, Gretchen. 

Toronto: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2002.

This book tells the story of Alex and his struggle to understand his father's depression. It answers the key questions children have about depression, offering a starting point for the discussion about the disorder. Appropriate for ages: 4-12 years.

Can I tell you about depression?: a guide for friends, family and professionals / Dowrick, Christopher; Martin, Susan; Medaglia, Mike. 

London: Jessica Kingsley, 2015.

This illustrated book is an ideal introduction to depression, a condition that can be particularly difficult for children to understand. It is suitable for readers aged 7 upwards and shows family, friends and anyone who knows someone affected by depression how they can offer support.

The color thief: a family's story of depression / Peters, Andrew; Peters, Polly. 

Chicago: Albert Whitman & Company, 2015.

A child recounts his experience of losing his father to depression and a world without color. As the father seeks help, color begins to reappear and with it hope.

Danny and the blue cloud: coping with childhood depression / Foley, James M.; Ng-Benitez, Shirley (ill.). 

Washington DC: Magination Press, 2016.

Danny was born under a blue cloud. He didn't know why, but sometimes the cloud made him cry. Some days he didn't want to get out of bed. Some days he was one big GROWL! With the help of Barnaby the rabbit, Danny learns to think more helpful thoughts, feel better about himself, and dance his way into a better mood! For ages 4-8.

Depression: a teen's guide to survive and thrive / Freeland, Claire A B.; Toner, Jacqueline B.

Washington: Magination Press, 2016.

This guide discusses depression and provides guidance on cognitive behavioral therapy principles to help teens take a problem-solving, strategy-based approach to deal with depressed moods, thoughts, and behavior.

 Depression and other mood disorders / Field, Jon Eben.

St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree Publishing Company, 2014.

Mental health is an important and often misunderstood concept. Depression and other mood disorders helps explain the importance of social and emotional health, as well as the symptoms and possible treatments. This book provides an open and honest discussion about stigma and how to help a friend or family member with depression.

Depression and your child: a guide for parents and caregivers / Serani, Deborah. 

Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2013.

This book contains specific tips, recommendations, and case examples to help make parenting a depressed child less challenging. It provides parents and caregivers an understanding of pediatric depression, its causes, its symptoms, and its treatments. Current research, treatments and trends are presented and tough subjects like self-harm, suicide and recovery plans are addressed with supportive direction.

Helping your teen overcome depression: a guide for parents / Kaufman, Miriam. 

Toronto: Key Porter, 2000.

Drawing on the author’s experience and that of other doctors and psychologists who work with teenagers, and offering many illustrative case histories, she explains what teen depression is and how it can be overcome. Medical and psychiatric conditions, gender and sexuality differences, substance abuse, anxiety, poverty and suicide, as well as the social and practical aspects of life with a depressed teen are discussed.

Helping your teenager beat depression: a problem-solving approach for families / Manassis, Katharina. 

Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House, 2004.

Depression is a real and serious condition that can derail lives and put a child at risk. This book offers parents a strategy that enables them to become active partners in the treatment of their child's depression.

If your adolescent has depression or bipolar disorder: an essential resource for parents / Evans, Dwight L. 

New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.

A guide to understanding and getting effective help for adolescents with depression or bipolar disorder. Includes practical advice from parents as well as the latest research on diagnoses, treatment, management, and prevention.

Mindfulness for teen depression: a workbook for improving your mood / Willard, Christopher. 

Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, 2016.

Depression can make it hard for teens to do well in school, make friends, and reach their goals. In this book, two teen experts offer powerful tools based in mindfulness and positive psychology to empower young readers who suffer from depression. The goal of this book is to help teens ease symptoms, work through troubling thoughts and feelings, and thrive in all aspects of life.

A mood apart: the thinker's guide to emotion and its disorders / Whybrow, Peter C. 

New York: Harper Collins, 1997.

This book discusses topics such as mental illness, depression and mania, using real life case studies.

More than moody: recognizing and treating adolescent depression / Koplewicz, Harold S. 

New York: Perigree, 2003.

This book will inform parents on the warning signs, risk factors, and key symptoms that offer important clues about depression.

My feeling better workbook: help for kids who are sad & depressed / Hamil, Sarah W.

Oakland, CA: Instant Help Books, 2008.

Presents activities based on cognitive behavioral therapy, play therapy, and art therapy to help children explore their feelings and combat the negative self-talk that depletes their motivation and self-esteem.

The other side of blue: the truth about teenage depression [DVD] / Dubo, Elyse.

Toronto, ON: Canadian Learning Company, 2000.

Learn how to remove the stigma of depression and how to overcome the toughest part about this illness for most young people.

Raising a moody child: how to cope with depression and bipolar disorder / Fristad, Mary A.

New York: Guilford Press, 2004.

This book explains how treatment works and what additional steps parents can take at home to help children with mood disorders, and the family as a whole, improve the quality of their lives. Filled with practical tools, FAQs, and examples, it covers everything from dealing with medical crises to resolving school problems, sibling conflicts, and marital stress.

Raising depression-free children: a parent's guide to prevention and early intervention / Hockey, Kathleen Panula.

Center City, MN: Hazelden, 2003.

Parents will find information about childhood depression in this guide, as well as practical, everyday strategies to reduce your child's risk of developing this life-threatening disease.

When life stinks: how to deal with bad moods, blues, and depression / Piquemal, Michel.

New York: Amulet Books, 2004.

Describes some of the causes of black moods, blues, and depression and presents ideas for battling all three.

When nothing matters anymore: a survival guide for depressed teens / Cobain, Bev. 

Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Pub, 1998.

A guide to depression including personal stories from teens, survival tips, and resources for info, advice, and support. Appropriate for ages: 12-17 years.

Why are you so sad?: parental depression / Andrews, Beth. 

Washington, DC: Magination Press, 2002.

Explains depression to young children, helps them understand and express their feelings and learn how to cope with parent's depression. Appropriate for Ages: 3- 8 years.

Why is mommy sad?: a child's guide to parental depression / Chan, Paul D.

Laguna Hills, CA: CCS Publishing, 2005.

A read-together book for children of parents with depression.

Young misery: a child and family psychiatrist discusses child and youth depression - how to identify it, and how to cope: a guide for parents and professionals / Palframan, David S.

Ottawa: Creative Bound, 2006.

Provides parents with information to help them effectively manage their children's problems as well as how to deal with their own related fears and concerns.