Young adults share how they faced depression

might be a book about depression, but doesn’t focus on it.

Instead, it features 20 young Kiwis sharing their journeys from the bottom of the bell curve up, and their wellness tools.

‘‘Sam’s is probably one of my favourites,’’ co-creator Eve Macfarlane said. ‘‘When he’s having a day when he’s got pentup energy ... he puts some loud music on and dances around in his living room by himself.

‘‘I would happily say I’ve adopted that.’’ For others, exercise, a special Spotify playlist, medication, or escaping to a bach were key to keeping well.

The idea for the book came from Jonathan Nabbs, who was one of the first in his group of friends to openly speak about depression when he experienced it in his early 20s.

‘‘Since then, I’ve had a lot of people come to me as their first confidant in return,’’ he said.

‘‘Including me,’’ added Macfarlane.

So, when Nabbs was looking for a creative outlet, he considered sharing tools which helped keep him well, and quickly broadened the idea to featuring others too.

Macfarlane, whom he knows through rowing, came on board and the pair secured charity funding.

‘‘The idea behind the coffee table book specifically is because it can’t be shied away from. It’s on the table, it creates conversation,’’ Macfarlane said.

‘‘If we approach it from the right way, this can be something we can talk about as easy-breezy as what we had for lunch,’’ Nabbs added.

The pair spent about two-and-a-half years gathering 20 profiles – including their own – from around New Zealand with photographer Mark Hamilton, who donated his time.

All proceeds from their efforts will go to the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.

For Danielle Talbot, one of the profilees, it’s the first time she lets people in on her experience with depression in her late teens and early 20s.

It was confronting at first, but it’s also been therapeutic.

‘‘It’s not a big deal,’’ she said. ‘‘It doesn’t need to be a secret.

‘‘The biggest reminder is it’s not a bad life, it’s just a bad day.’’

is available through the website at howwegothappy.co.nz, or in Hamilton bookshops Browsers and Paper Plus Centre Place.