World Health Day 2017 - Depression: Let’s Talk

World Health Day is on 7 April and is an initiative by the World Health Organisation. The theme this year is depression, which currently affects more than 300 million people globally.

A study by the World Health Organization found that between 1990 and 2013, there’s been an almost 50% increase in the number of people affected by depression and/or anxiety.

‘Depression: Let’s talk’

This year’s slogan ‘Let’s talk’ is encouraging open conversations about depression to break down stigma around mental health. If people feel more comfortable talking about how depression affects them, they’re more likely to seek support.

Starting a conversation

Books are a really great way of starting conversations about your mental health. The Reading Well Books on Prescription list for adults with common mental health conditions has three self-help titles on the list to support people with depression. Family and friends can also use the books to encourage better and more informed conversations about depression.

Reading Well for young people

Nearly 80,000 children and young people in the UK suffer from depression, so the Reading Well for young people’s booklist also provides a dedicated selection of titles offering accessible and engaging support for depression.

Health professionals who regularly use Reading Well for young people have explained they often recommend Matthew Johnstone’s I Had A Black Dog to help young people living with depression explain the way they’re feeling to the people close to them.

Get involved

• Use the hashtag #LetsTalk on social media to break down the stigma around depression
• Visit our website to browse titles on depression or anxiety on the Reading Well booklists
• Download handouts on depression created by the World Health Organization