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FYI…
Mood disorders like depression are common among people who have chronic health conditions, including people with spinal-cord injury (SCI). Depression: What You Should Know, A Guide for People with Spinal Cord Injury was published by the Consortium for Spinal Cord Medicine, with administrative and financial support provided by the Paralyzed Veterans of America. This guide offers information on how to spot depression, its causes, how to get help, treatments available, and much more. You may download a free copy from www.pva.org; under Publications in the top menu bar, scroll down to Consumer Guides.

about your childhood. Also, many people are uncomfortable with the idea of talking to a stranger about their feelings and problems.

Fact: Modern counseling is more like having a coach who can help you sharpen your coping skills and improve your strengths, rather than the old stereotype of simply talking about the past. Counseling is an effective treatment for

Modern counseling is more like having a coach who can help you sharpen your coping skills and improve your strengths, rather than the old stereotype of simply talking about the past.

sion. Likewise, lack of physical activity can increase the risk of depression. People with SCI face major challenges trying to resume enjoyable physical activities and, as a group, are quite inactive. This may contribute to the higher rates of depression in individuals with SCI. To address this, researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle are conducting a study to see if telephone counseling aimed at helping people with SCI become more physically active is an effective treatment for depression. People living with SCI anywhere in the United States may be eligible for this study, since it is carried out by telephone. Call 866-928-2114 (toll-free) or e-mail agerrtc@uw.edu to learn more.

Act Now!
What should you do if you have symptoms of major depression now? Talk with your healthcare provider about getting treatment. You may also consider participating in one of the studies mentioned above. If you have serious thoughts of death or suicide, call 9-1-1, the 24-hour National Crisis Hotline at 800-273-8255, or your local Crisis Clinic right away. The preceding information is a revision of the original article in the SCI Update newsletter (Summer 2010) published by the University of Washington. Reprinted by permission. ■

major depression—but not just any counseling. The most scientifically supported approach is called cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). In CBT the counselor helps you build enjoyable and meaningful activities back into your life, notice the links between how you think and how you feel, and solve the daily problems that weigh you down.

Other Ways to Reduce Depression
Research has shown that increasing physical activity can improve mood and reduce depres24 |

December 2010

http://www.pva.org

PN Demo

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of PN Demo

PN Demo
Contents
Contributors
PVA President's Message
PVA Chapter Roster
Reasons & Remarks Redivivus
Readers Respond
Access Through Architecture
A Closer Look
When It's More Than "The Blues"
Putting on a Brave Face
Depression After SCI: Myths and Facts
PN Demo - PN Demo
PN Demo - Cover2
PN Demo - 3
PN Demo - Contents
PN Demo - 5
PN Demo - Contributors
PN Demo - 7
PN Demo - PVA President's Message
PN Demo - PVA Chapter Roster
PN Demo - Reasons & Remarks Redivivus
PN Demo - Readers Respond
PN Demo - Access Through Architecture
PN Demo - 13
PN Demo - 14
PN Demo - 15
PN Demo - A Closer Look
PN Demo - 17
PN Demo - 18
PN Demo - When It's More Than "The Blues"
PN Demo - Putting on a Brave Face
PN Demo - 21
PN Demo - Depression After SCI: Myths and Facts
PN Demo - 23
PN Demo - 24
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