Gareth O’Callaghane wrote in his 2003 autobiography A Day Called Hope: “In past times the lion tamer came equipped with a whip and a chair; now I was going to arm myself with knowledge against my own ferocious and unpredictable beast.

“I was eager to learn as much as I could from other people’s knowledge and experience of depression: what might have caused it, what might eventually cure it, and what effects these strange pills were having on me while I tried to get back to normal.”

Balbriggan library is part of a scheme where quality self-help books for adults are stocked which people can access. These books can be acquired on prescription from your doctor or a health care professional who recommends a particular book to suit you.

This is called bibliotherapy, or therapy through books, and might be as effective as medication, say the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

These book prescription schemes started in Wales. Now we have quite a few participating libraries throughout Ireland. Books recommended include Tony Bates on depression and anxiety, or the illustrated ‘I had a black dog’, or John Bradshaw’s ‘The Homecoming’, which concerns reclaiming your inner child.

I think Gareth O’Callaghan’s ‘A Day Called Hope’ should be included. He spoke out about his depression on The Marian Finucane Show. In doing so, he helped countless people, including himself.

He says: “But an untold story can kill: with the benefit of hindsight I know it is imperative to let the light in and to enable the talking to begin, openly and frequently, in order to encourage new growth, and to realize that there are many other people out there who are going through the same traumas and feeling the same way.”

Incredible stress exposes the illness. So we can start by learning strategies in order to deal with stress. Issues of self esteem and confidence also matter crucially in your well-being. Gareth O’Callaghan, writer and broadcaster, talks plainly about the symptoms and consequences of his depression, and seems to have tackled his problem with intelligence and pragmatic action.

He remembers the day he went walking in the Phoenix Park with his dad after he had a flashing insight and made the decision to make himself better: “I had obviously sent an incredibly strong message to my unconscious mind because the euphoria and peaceful acceptance, and the reassurance that I was at long last on the right path, left me breathless with amazement.”

This is a book of hope and a practical guide and can be read by anyone. One person said of it “I’ve never met anyone with the ability to put words on feelings that I haven’t been able to understand for years.” I hope that this book will be available on the bibliotherapy scheme.