Overcoming Teenage Low Mood and Depression is a self-help book addressing low mood and mild to moderate depression in teenagers. It builds upon the Five Areas Assessment model of depression that has been successfully used for adults with anxiety or depression (e.g. in Overcoming Depression and Low Mood), but it modifies the principles to apply to young people. So, as before, the approach breaks down the young person's life into five areas: People and events; Altered thinking; Altered feelings; Altered physical symptoms; and Altered behaviour.

The book is organized into a series of chapters, described as workbooks – 15 for the young person and one for families and friends who may wish to offer support. Section one contains two workbooks. The first guides the young person to understand why they are feeling low and ends with a self-rating of the young person's functioning in each of the five areas, the Key Areas Self-assessment. Each subsequent workbook ends with a review of the progress in these five areas using the same self-rating approach. The next workbook aims to develop the motivation to challenge their low mood and provides practical advice on how to address some of the likely barriers a teenager might face when trying to engage with the course. The longest section, comprising 13 workbooks, deals with ways to make changes. The authors suggest it is possible to be selective about completing all the workbooks, but recommend that readers make use of their initial Key Areas Self-assessment to guide their selection of workbooks. However for those young people who may not be able to effectively direct their own treatment, they also make very helpful recommendations as to which workbook it makes sense to attempt first. Therefore it is possible for the reader to drop elements of the programme and tailor their reading to suit their needs, but still ensure they are tracking changes in their functioning. The book also links into two internet resources, written by Chris Williams, offering on-line support, with access to free material as well the option to purchase further information. The latter related to successful adult CBT self-help programmes for depression and anxiety.

I was pleased to see specific workbooks for features such as assertiveness, relationship building and substance misuse, which while not necessarily core depressive symptoms are likely to be important for facilitating and maintaining recovery, and could also have applications to young people with problems other than low mood. I also liked the final workbook, which provides guidelines for families. Not only does this workbook provide psychoeducation about the CBT model, but it also recognizes that supporting someone with low mood can be a tough task, and that carers should make time to look after themselves. Just as importantly, this section also discusses how communication operates within the family and how otherwise well-meaning conversations, requests or enquiries may be received as criticism or checking-up by a young person with low mood. This strikes me as a particularly helpful section, as I expect that many teenage readers using this book as a self-help resource would benefit from significant support from involved and understanding families to keep them engaged and active with the programme.

Of course, Overcoming Teenage Low Mood and Depression does not have to be restricted to use as a self-help book. It also has potential as a very useful resource book for a busy clinician; moreover elements of the workbooks may be helpful when using CBT for adolescent anxiety and anger. As with all self-help materials, judicious use and careful introduction of the material to the teenager will be important – the cartoons and general style of the book will be hugely appealing to some, but possibly off-putting to others.

I imagine it may be especially appealing for trainees who frequently crave something structured and organized to work from in their initial sessions of CBT with a client group who can pose a challenge for keeping faith with emerging CBT skills.