When a book is not enough

Signs that reading may not be enough

The World Health Organization describes a depressive episode as depressed mood or loss of pleasure or interest for most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks. Other symptoms may include poor concentration, feelings of excessive guilt or low self-worth, hopelessness, thoughts about dying or suicide, disrupted sleep and changes in appetite or weight. WHO says depression is different from usual mood fluctuations and short-lived reactions to challenges, and that effective psychological treatment exists. This describes how WHO defines the condition and is not a tool for diagnosing yourself.^[1]

The NHS says a low mood may improve after a short period and is not always a sign of depression, but that it is important to seek help from a GP if you think you may be depressed, and that it is best not to delay. NIMH, in the United States, says that anyone with a mental illness, who is struggling emotionally or who has concerns about their mental health has ways to get help. It also advises talking to a provider if you have concerns about treatment, and not stopping treatment without speaking to your health care provider.^[2][3]

WHO reports that the gap between the need for treatment and its provision is wide all over the world, and that only one third of people with depression receive formal mental health care. Many people try a book first, and official guidance supports self-help for milder problems, but in the guideline discussed below it is paired with support from a trained practitioner. A book is a reasonable starting point for some people, not a replacement for assessment when symptoms are persistent, severe or worsening.^[1][4]

How self-help fits alongside professional care

NICE treats guided self-help as one option within a process that begins with an assessment of need and a treatment plan. It recommends that clinicians discuss options, take account of the person's preferences and recognise that people have a right to decline treatment. For more severe depression it sets out a separate table of first-line treatment options. The self-help it describes is delivered with a trained practitioner, usually over six to eight sessions.^[4]

The NHS website says that for many problems such as anxiety and depression you can refer yourself to NHS talking therapies without speaking to a GP, if you are 18 or over (16 or over in some areas). For conditions including eating disorders, bipolar disorder, personality disorders or psychosis, a GP must refer you for treatment. These arrangements describe NHS services, and readers elsewhere should check how care is organised where they live.^[5]

Urgent situations

The NHS page on urgent mental health help says to call 999 or go to A&E if someone's life is at risk or you do not feel you can keep yourself or someone else safe, and states that a mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a physical one. NIMH gives equivalent advice for the United States: in life-threatening situations call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room, and if you are suicidal or in emotional distress consider the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which can be reached by call, text or online chat.^[6][3]

NICE tells clinicians to always ask people with depression directly about suicidal thoughts and intent, and to refer urgently to specialist mental health services where a person presents considerable immediate risk to themselves or others. WHO states that suicides can be prevented with timely, evidence-based and often low-cost interventions, and that stigma means many people who are thinking about suicide do not seek help. WHO reports that more than 720,000 people die by suicide every year.^[4][7]

Support lines

United Arab Emirates. The UAE Government portal (u.ae) and the Ajman government website both list emergency numbers that can be called from anywhere in the UAE: 999 for police, 998 for ambulance and 997 for the fire department (civil defence). The Ajman page also lists the Ministry of Interior toll-free hotline 116111 for violence and abuse of women and children, and the Ministry of Interior Child Protection Centre website gives 116111 as its hotline for reporting abuse. In an emergency where a life may be at risk, use the emergency numbers above.^[8][9][10]

The Dubai Foundation for Women and Children says it was established in 2007 to offer immediate protection and support services for women and children in the UAE against domestic violence, child abuse and human trafficking. Its official website lists the toll-free number 800111 among its contact numbers. This is a service for abuse and violence rather than a general mental health line. Find A Helpline, a free directory run by ThroughLine, lists it for the UAE alongside the Child Protection Centre, and also covers many other countries.^[11][12]

These lines are for readers who are in, or travelling to, the United Kingdom or the United States. Samaritans gives 116 123 as a number you can call any time, day or night, from any phone for free, and the NHS urgent help page lists the same number. The NHS website also says you can get help from 111 online or by calling 111 and selecting the mental health option, and to call 999 or go to A&E if a life is at risk. In the United States, NIMH points to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, reachable by calling or texting 988 or by online chat, and to 911 for life-threatening situations.^[13][6][3]

About this page

This page is general information drawn from published research and official guidance. It is not medical advice, it does not diagnose any condition, and it is not a substitute for a consultation with a doctor, psychologist or other qualified professional. Guidance described here is attributed to the organisations that issued it, and it may differ between countries and change over time. If you are worried about your own health or someone else's, speak to a qualified professional.

Telephone numbers on this page were checked against the official pages cited in October 2026, and services change their hours, scope and numbers. A directory such as findahelpline.com can help you find a current service in your country. If you or someone near you may be in immediate danger and you cannot reach a listed line, use the local emergency number.^[12]