Objective To explore the effect of whole course integrated health education on depressive emotion and self-concept modification in depressive patients and to improve their psychological rehabilitation. Methods Sixties depressive inpatients treated with antidepressive drugs were randomly assigned to receive supportive psychological nursing and general health education (control group 28) or whole course integrated health education (experimental group 32). Hamilton Depression Scale ( HAMD), Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSCS) and Symptom Checklist 90(SCL-90) were used before and after intervention to evaluate the clinical effects of two groups. Results Before interventions,the total scores of HAMD,TSCS and SCL-90 were (24.8 ±4. 3) ,(249.68 ±16.23) and(136.39±34.26)in experimental group and (24. 9 ±4. 2) , (248. 74 ± 17. 32) and( 136. 52 ± 35.04) in control group, with no significant difference between two groups (all P ＜ 0.01). After intervention, the total scores of HAMD, TSCS and SCL-90 were (19.7±2.8),(263.55±19.53) and (114.22 ± 18. 75) in experimental group and (22.4 ± 3. 3), (253. 66 ± 18. 37) and (134. 56 ± 32. 64) in control group, with significant difference between two groups (all P＜0.01). Conclusions Whole course integrated health education can improve depressive emotion of patients with depression, develop their positive self-concept and boost their mental health level.