Self-help program

Depressive symptoms can be completely overcome.

In the video (1:30), a Chief Physician explains that self-help programs, medication, internet therapy, and psychotherapy are all effective treatments for depression. You can read more about the treatment options below.

Self-help program you can use on your own

Sometimes harmful ways of thinking or behaving can reduce well-being. If they do, it’s important to become aware of and recognize them. This makes it possible to change them.

Working on your thought and behavior patterns is therefore central in this Self-Help Program. At the same time, you will also learn mindfulness skills and relaxation.

You can use this Self-Help Program:

• independently
• while waiting for other treatment
• alongside other treatment
• after other treatment has ended

Support from others

Many people say they feel better after sharing their symptoms with those close to them. Your loved ones may also have noticed your symptoms. By talking, you may receive a surprising amount of support and understanding for your recovery.

If you can’t talk to loved ones, you can talk with people who have had similar experiences. Peer support is available both in groups and one-on-one. Opportunities for discussion exist both face-to-face and online. There are also peer support programs guided by social and healthcare professionals.

“A sorrow shared is a sorrow halved”

In the following video (2:50), people who have experienced depression describe feeling relief after talking about their mental health symptoms with loved ones or peers.

Liisa, who appears in the video, says that shared joy feels doubled, while sorrow is halved when you talk about it.

Professional support

In the treatment of depression, psychosocial treatments and medication are common. They can be provided either separately or at the same time.

Psychosocial treatments are based on research evidence. Psychosocial treatments based on interaction with a professional include psychotherapy and other forms of talk therapy. Internet therapy involves more independent work.

Internet therapy

Internet therapy is an effective treatment for mild to moderate depression.

Internet therapy is completed on your own computer, phone, or tablet, with support from a therapist. You work through the therapy each week, and it typically lasts about 3–4 months.

During internet therapy, you reflect on your difficulties and your patterns of thinking and behavior and learn new ways of coping. The program includes educational materials, videos, and exercises. When appropriate for the patient, internet therapy has been shown to be as effective as face-to-face psychotherapy.

If you are interested in internet therapy, make an appointment with a doctor. Any doctor can refer you for internet therapy.

Internet therapy usually begins within a week of referral and is free of charge for residents of Finland.

Learn more about internet therapy for depression

Psychotherapy and other talk therapies

Psychotherapy and other talk therapies primarily involve talking through difficult issues. When appropriate, exercises may also be used to help you identify and change patterns of behavior that contribute to your symptoms.

You can receive therapy individually, with your partner or family, or in a group. Brief talk therapy is also available through primary care, for example.

You can always choose to pay for psychotherapy out of pocket. If you have been diagnosed with a mental health condition that threatens your ability to work or study, you may be eligible for Kela-subsidized rehabilitative psychotherapy. In some areas, psychotherapy may also be available through a service voucher issued by the public health care system.

Medication

Medication can be used alongside other treatments to help relieve symptoms. Talk with your doctor about whether medication may be appropriate for you.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

In transcranial magnetic stimulation, magnetic impulses that affect brain cell activity are applied to the head.

During the procedure, the patient is awake and sits in a treatment chair. The treatment is usually given at least 10–20 times, with sessions several times a week.

Magnetic stimulation has been shown to alleviate depression when targeted at specific areas of the frontal lobe of the brain. In the video (2:49), you can learn more about the treatment and see how it’s performed.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective and well-researched treatment method. It affects, among other things, brain metabolism and neurotransmitter levels.

ECT can be used to treat severe depression when medications don’t seem effective or when the patient has psychotic symptoms or suicidal thoughts.

The patient is put under anesthesia for the duration of the treatment, so they don’t feel pain. A brief electric current is passed through the head for a few seconds, causing a controlled seizure in the brain. The treatment is typically given 2–3 times a week, for a total of about 4–16 sessions.

Bright light therapy can be used independently

Bright light therapy can help relieve symptoms of seasonal depression. Light therapy lamps are available in regular retail stores.

Bright light therapy has been shown to activate blood flow in the brain and the function of neurotransmitters, as well as to ease symptoms.

For seasonal depression, bright light (2,500 lux) is typically used daily for 1–2 hours.