Depression

Depression is one of the most common types of mental illness. Although it's hard to feel optimistic when you're depressed, there is lots of support available to help you feel better.

Depression is a mood disorder where you feel very down all the time. Depression can happen as a reaction to something like abuse/trauma, bullying or family breakdown, but it can also run in families.

Depression often develops alongside anxiety  and they can feed into each other. Anxiety can make you feel low and being low can make you anxious.

 What’s the difference between low Mood and Depression?

 We all feel low or down at times that is normal bur if your negative emotions last a long time or feel very severe you may have depression.

A General Low mood can include

Sadness

Feeling anxious or panicky

Worry

 Low self-esteem

Tiredness

Anger and Frustration

 A low mood will tend to lift after a few days or weeks.

Making small changes such as resolving a difficult situation, talking to friends and getting more sleep and looking after yourself can help improve your mood.

 The symptoms of depression

Depression affects different people in different ways. Symptoms can include:

• Not wanting to do things that you previously enjoyed

• avoiding friends or social situations

• sleeping more or less than normal

• eating more or less than normal

• feeling irritable, upset, miserable or lonely

• being self-critical

• feeling hopeless

• Maybe wanting to self-harm

• Feeling tired and not having any energy

Just because you experience one or more of these symptoms, it doesn’t mean you’re definitely affected by depression. It’s important to talk to your GP to get a full diagnosis.

Support

 Young Minds Crisis Messenger

• Provides free, 24/7      crisis support across the UK if you are experiencing a mental health      crisis
• If you need urgent      help text YM to 85258
• All texts are      answered by trained volunteers, with support from experienced clinical      supervisors
• Texts are free from      EE, O2, Vodafone, 3, Virgin Mobile, BT Mobile, GiffGaff, Tesco Mobile and      Telecom Plus.

Samaritans 

• www.samaritans.org
• If you're in      distress and need support, you can ring Samaritans for free at any time of      the day or night.
• Freephone (UK and      Republic of Ireland): 116 123 (24 hours)
• Email: jo@samaritans.org

Papyrus (Prevention of Young Suicide)

• www.papyrus-uk.org
• Confidential advice      and support for young people who feel suicidal.
• HOPELineUK: 0800      068 41 41
• Text: 07786 209 697
• Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org 

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)

• www.thecalmzone.net
• Offers support to      young men in the UK who are down or in a crisis.
• Helpline: 0800 58      58 58 (Daily 17:00-midnight)
• Webchat

Childline

• www.childline.org.uk
• If you're under 19      you can confidentially call, email, or chat online about any problem      big or small
       Freephone 24h helpline: 0800 1111
• Sign up for a childline account on the      website to be able to message a counsellor anytime without using your      email address
• Chat 1:1 with      an online advisor

The Mix

• www.themix.org.uk
• If you're under 25      you can talk to The Mix for free on the phone, by email or on their      webchat. You can also use their phone counselling service, or get more      information on support services you might need. 
• Freephone: 0808 808      4994 (13:00-23:00 daily)