Press Release
Contact: Erika Arthur 413/ 253-5432

*erika@foodforthoughtbooks.com* <erika@foodforthoughtbooks.com>

Are You *Surviving America's Depression Epidemic*?

*Author Bruce Levine to Present at Food for Thought Books*
AMHERST – Author Bruce Levine will present and read from his new book,
*Surviving America's Depression Epidemic: How to Find Morale, Energy, and Community in a World Gone Crazy* at 7 pm on Tuesday, March 25 at Food for Thought Books in Amherst.

Listen to the audio PSA here.

The evening will consist of a presentation by Bruce Levine, followed by an interactive discussion. The book will be available for
purchase that evening.

From *Surviving America's Depression Epidemic*:
"The rate of depression in the U.S. has increased more than tenfold in the
last fifty years. By not seriously confronting societal sources of despair,
American mental health institutions have become part of the problem rather
than the solution."

The good news is that age-old wisdom and legitimate science – uncorrupted by
the profit-margin pressures of pharmaceutical and insurance companies – have
much to inform us about revitalizing depressed people and a depressing
culture. *Surviving America's Depression Epidemic* provides an alternate
approach that encompasses the whole of our humanity, society, and culture,
and which redefines depression in a way that makes enduring transformation
more likely."

The event is co-sponsored by the Western Mass. Recovery Learning Community
(RLC), the Hampshire College Mental Health Awareness/Learning
Disability/Disability Rights Group, the Freedom Center, and Food for Thought
Books.

The Western Mass RLC supports individuals in finding their own path to
mental health recovery within communities of their choice by offering
trauma-informed peer supports and through the development of a regional peer
network. For more information about the Western Mass RLC please call
toll-free to (866) 641-2853, e-mail info@westernmassrlc.org, or visit their
website at www.westernmassrlc.org.

Freedom Center is a support and activism community run by and for people
labeled with severe 'mental disorders.' They call for compassion, human
rights, self-determination, and holistic options in mental health. They can
be reached at (877) 677-6424, info@freedom-center.org, or
www.freedom-center.org.

The Hampshire College Mental Health Awareness/Learning Disability/Disability
Rights Group is a newly formed group supporting people labeled with all
types of disabilities. They were founded by a Hampshire student and can be
reached by contacting Hampshire College.