Dr Chris Williams is a professor of psychosocial psychiatry and honorary consultant psychiatrist at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. His main clinical and research interest is in the evaluation of self-help approaches that provide wider access to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approaches. Dr. Williams developed the Five Areas® approach, and his books and resources are used nationally in the UK, and tested and used internationally in a series of major projects.

• Part 1: Getting started and understanding why you feel as you do 1. Starting out ... and how to keep going if you feel stuck 2. Understanding why you feel as you do Part 2: Tackling problems and rebalancing relationships 3. Practical problem solving 4. Being assertive: How to ask for what you need 5. Building relationships with your family and friends 6. Information for families and friends: How to offer the best supportPart 3: Making changes to what you do 7. Doing things that make you feel better 8. Using exercise to improve how you feel 9. Helpful things you can do 10. Unhelpful things you do Part 4: Noticing and changing unhelpful thinking 11. Noticing unhelpful thinking 12. Changing unhelpful thinking Part 5: Improving sleep, tackling alcohol and drug misuse, understanding and using antidepressant medication 13. Overcoming sleep problems 14. Harmful drinking and you 15. Understanding and using anti-depressant medication Part 6: Planning for the future 16. Planning for the future

'I have no hesitation recommending Overcoming Depression and Low Mood in Adults that in many ways has set the standard for others to try to emulate. The text is consistent with national guidance informing good quality written materials which can give comfort to people struggling with depression and low mood who may otherwise struggle to engage, and furthermore to the mental health practitioners providing support.'Professor Paul Farrand, PhD, PGDip BSc (Hons), chartered medical psychologist and cognitive behavioural therapist is professor of evidence based psychological practice at the University of Exeter and trained as a CBT Therapist.