Depression, Fish, and Resiliency

Image from Chowhound.

Depression is the leading cause of disability all over the world. Suicide rates are escalating. Families are in despair. What can we do about it? Is there anything besides medication and counseling? How can we prevent it?

This answer is unconventional: we could all stand to eat more fish!

According to a 2015 research article, people who eat the most fish have greater resiliency and are less likely to become depressed.

527 Japanese employees at a large company were given a Depression Scale (CES-D) to assess symptoms of depression. Then they were given a questionnaire to report how often they ate fish. The experiment found that fish consumption may be associated with increased resilience to depression.

If you're taking fish oil, it may be good for you to try eating fish instead for a while. See if you feel any differently. The research on fish oil is actually a bit controversial, with different studies finding both effective and ineffective results for depression.

Maybe this will be my retirement plan, to become a fisherman...

Author

Satu H. Woodland, PMHCNS-BC, APRN Satu Woodland is owner and clinician of Hope Mental Health, an integrative mental health practice located at Bown Crossing in Boise, Idaho. She sees children, adolescents, and adults.  Ms. Woodland with her background in nursing, prefers a holistic and integrative approach to mental health care that addresses the mind and body together. While Ms. Woodland provides medication management services in all her patients, she believes in long-lasting solutions that include a number of psychotherapies, namely cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure and response prevention therapy, attention to lifestyle, evidenced based alternative psychiatric care and spirituality. If you’d like to gain control over your mental health issues, call Hope Mental Health at 208-918-0958, or use the online scheduling tool to set up an initial consultation.