Ask HN: How can I help people defeat depression?

Get them active outdoors (high-intensity exercise creates BDNF [1], which is like miracle-grow for the brain [2]), get them writing (provides an outlet for trapped thoughts cycling around in their head), get them to make something (among other things, it shifts their focus from the past to a future they are actively involved in shaping) [3], and get them physically involved with helping others who are less fortunate (compassionate acts give perspective and help reframe the mind) .

1. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain-derived_neurotrophic_fac...

2. SPARK: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain http://www.johnratey.com/Books.php

3. "When You Are Depressed, Make Something." https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13365430

jerryr · 9 years ago

For a "get them writing" idea, I'd personally love a secure, cross-platform (including different mobile and desktop platforms, though I'd be happy with iOS/Mac OS for starters), journaling app that syncs without using a service that's proprietary to the app. I like Day One (http://dayoneapp.com), but hate that it's not properly encrypted and that it uses their proprietary service. What I think I want is the functionality of Day One with the sync options and security of 1Password. That would give me the confidence to pour my head into a daily journal. And, as far as I know, it doesn't exist.

Edit: Hm. I googled a little after posting and realized that my comment about Day One not being "properly encrypted" might be incorrect. It was based upon my experience with v1 of Day One. It looks like v2 added encryption and it was further improved with v2.1--though I can't speak to the strength of their implementation and can't find anyone who claims to have audited it. And they still only appear to support their own sync service.

wikibob · 9 years ago

I agree. DayOne is terrific, but I am really not happy to have the NSA vacuuming up my entries.

Where do you see that the latest version added encryption? The most recent info I've seen is the blog entries from May 2016 http://dayoneapp.com/2016/05/end-to-end-encryption-for-day-o...

and August 2016 http://dayoneapp.com/2016/08/encryption-update/

adiabatty · 9 years ago

I'd like to plug https://syncthing.net for this; it syncs between your computers without copying things into The Cloud™.

As for the notes…maybe nvAlt? http://brettterpstra.com/projects/nvalt/

bbcbasic · 9 years ago

Or for simplicity (and somewhat for warantless search protection...) a diary?

I have had a one but long period of depression in the past where everything was dark. Dark as hell. Retrospectively I can say, by far the thigs that help the most are just someone listening. Listening the other who needs it and in a 10% maybe help them by reframing them and put in perspective their view. It is a really difficult job. Second something that helped me a lot was CBT online by using Lantern, it helps you see things differently and chat with a therapist all day long, personally I trusted my couch there way more than any of the 3 therapist I saw personally, they sucked. Lastly the best thing that helped me get back to my real better me was to become useful. That means do create stuff on the side (a useful startup with paying customers) and get a job in the terms I always wanted earning well (remote consultant). In my case money played a big role. Also as soon as possible get the best gym you can. I tried 5 gyms and some sucked, other were good, but I as soon as I bought the most expensive one, it was by far the best desicion I have made. Last but no lease, it might be stupid but something that impacted a lot for the better was upgrading my work tools to the best one on the market, I bought a nice big monitor and ordered all my workspace. This improved my mood a lot instead of a the tiny little screen of my Mac, not recommended for 15+ work day. I forgot, try reducing sugars and carbs. Hope this helps someone. There is a escape. Get in touch with me if needed. g at black dot uy

greyostrich · 9 years ago

How much did the best gym cost? I was previously looking at one $150/month, but that's obviously too much for someone with no income.

imd23 · 9 years ago

Well it doesn't matter how much it cost but how makes you feel. You will spot it instantly.mine is like equinox on the US. It cost 150 too. It was the best desviación I made as well as upgrading my workspace.

espeed · 9 years ago

tabeth · 9 years ago

What people lack these days is community. Building an excellent community will allow people with problems like depression to find support.

The researchers polled 1,018 depressed patients in 90 randomized community- and clinic-based programs. The community-based approaches--in such places as churches, senior centers, and barber shops--worked best at improving mental-health quality of life, increasing physical activity, reducing homelessness risk factors, and getting more people to seek hospital and primary physician care. [1]

[1] http://www.rand.org/news/press/2013/06/25.html

beerbaron23 · 9 years ago

* Having someone that is able to listen and relate too is very important, especially someone you can build a relationship on that genuinely cares.

* Having a purpose. depression is sometimes based on the fact that the person has no purpose, no one to impress, no one that needs/appreciate the help they can give.

* Having a method where people can meet and build small common goals for the day/week in smaller groups (5 or less) would really help.

* Exercise, healthy eating and creativity.

* A job = some sort of purpose, so employment.

* Getting a routine.

* Sun/Vitamin D

* Building a positive and useful environment around themselves.

* Being part of something that has some meaning, like if they would not attend/be there it will not advance without them. This makes them important and the feeling of having a purpose to get out of bed.

* Anything that makes you laugh.

zeroToAction · 9 years ago

I too had someone very close lose a battle with depression. I've been working on ideas on my own to try and come up with something useful. This is my most recent attempt: http://www.zerotoaction.com I'd love to team up or discuss ideas with you and anyone interested. It's a topic that's very important to me. This is my first post/comment, please forgive me if I broke protocol in any way. Critiques and suggestions are welcome.

cdvonstinkpot · 9 years ago

Based on what I see you doing there, I think you'd appreciate the concepts presented by 'Science Of Mind' Church of Religious Science. They've got a good (albiet long) book called 'Science of Mind' by Earnest Holmes. The churches have classes where affirmation-based 'Spiritual Mind Treatment' techniques are taught.

Thank you very much for the suggestion. I never heard of Earnest Holmes before and I bought the book to learn more.

Deleted Comment

mthoms · 9 years ago

Thanks for sharing your project. It looks interesting. Be sure to let us know when you formally launch with a "Show HN" post.

I'll definitely look into doing a "Show HN" post once ready. Thank you for your feedback and suggestion!

combatentropy · 9 years ago

I wonder if some kind of chatbot therapist would help. It would have to be somehow preloaded with actual good things to say. Maybe you could get real therapists to volunteer various answers.

It's not ideal, but many people are in desperate situations. Not everyone can afford $100 an hour for a therapist.

And there's something to be said for someone who just listens. I remember hearing a story decades ago about a man who put an ad in the classifieds: "Will listen without comment for 20 minutes for $20." He got a lot of calls!

pizza · 9 years ago

There was an early chatbot that did something less sophisticated than this, called ELIZA. It mostly repeated back what the user typed in a question form, but the typing of thoughts was cathartic enough for people to use it for long sessions

mbrock · 9 years ago

If you have Emacs, a version of Eliza is available via M-x doctor.

mrkgnao · 9 years ago

"Take a break!"

james_niro · 9 years ago

You can't just treat depression with games etc, for people that are depressed and fall into depression it goes way deeper than you think. Whenever, I have into depression I block all the negative news, I watch funny ideas, comedy , hanging out with friends, family, my little nephew and my dog. Also, coding and doing math helps me a lot. However, hanging out with my little nephew give me back that purpose to continue and work hard so I can make his life better

charlesism · 9 years ago

    > can't just treat depression with games etc

Not that I disagree with that, but there are probably some games that could help a decent amount. I'll bet a language-learning app, for example, could help some people* considerably. Something like Duolingo is low effort to high reward, and learning a new language is harder to dismiss as pointless than most other human activities.

*ie: those with the energy to stick with it, and an interest in travel

tyre · 9 years ago

Can help: Medication (SSRIs, SSNRIs), therapy, meditation, exercise, close relationships

Can hurt: lack of sleep, alcohol, stress, traumatic/emotional events

contingencies · 9 years ago

Drugs have a very dark side and can definitely hurt, I would not think it's a balanced, modern, medical perspective recommend these without serious consideration!

milankragujevic · 9 years ago

Can confirm, after gaining 30 KG in a year from medications, BUT it's worse off of them. Not having money in the family, not having for basic things that my peers have, not being able to find work... I feel trapped in my situation and everybody says wait till you're 18 (17 since January), but every day is torture and like a year to me, waiting a year AND then trying to find a job is painful. And not to mention I'm not even going to school because of extensive social anxiety that prevents me from leaving my house and even interacting with people in the house. I used to find comfort in technology but even that is passing and I find myself not being satisfied by anything. Note, I am visiting a psychiatrist and a psychologist and but the situation in my family is bad and ... Sorry for venting here, but HN is my only "social" life.

True, but also they can help a great deal and shouldn't be ruled out. Shouldn't be the automatic answer either.