Book excerpt: The silent epidemic of depression affects millions of people and takes dozens of lives everyday, while our culture grapples with a stigma against open discussion of mental health issues. Editor Amy Ferris has collected these stories to illuminate the truth behind that stigma and offer compassion, solidarity, and hope for all those who have struggled with depression. Contributors to Shades of Blue include: Barbara Abercrombie Sherry Amatenstein Regina Anavy Chloe Caldwell Jimmy Camp Debra LoGuercio DeAngelo Marika Rosenthal Delan Hollye Dexter Beverly Donofrio Beth Bornstein Dunnington Matt Ebert Betsy Graziani Fasbinder Zoe FitzGerald Carter Pam L. Houston David Lacy Patti Linsky Mark S. King Caroline Leavitt Karen Lynch Lira Maywood C.O. Moed Mark Morgan Linda Joy Myers Christine Kehl O Hagan Jennifer Pastiloff Ruth Pennebaker Angela M. Giles Patel Alexa Rosalsky Elizabeth Rosner Kathryn Rountree Kitty Sheehan Jenna Stone judywhite Samantha White Shades of Blue brings the conversation around depression and sadness into the open with real, first-hand accounts of depression and mental health issues, offering empathy to all those who have been affected by these issues. It s time to scream out loud against this silent annihilator: We are not alone. "