What is Depression?
Depression is a mental illness and it is when someone is moody or low and experiences sadness intensely for a long period of time(weeks, months or even years) and sometimes without apparent reasons.
Who does depression Effect?
Depression affects many people, from teenagers to adults.
Facts about depression
- Every year about 1 million Australians adults have depression.
- Every year 10,000 young Australians live with depression
- In Australia more than 6 million work days are lost each year due to depression
- Between 2013-14, 1 in 20 of young people aged 12-17 had experienced depression
- 4% of people experienced major depression in a 12 month period
Signs and symtoms of depression
Behaviour:
- Not going out anymore
- Not getting things done at school/work
- Relying on alchohol and sedatives
- Unable to concentrate
Feelings:
- Frustated
- Lacking in Confidence
- Miserable
- Overwhelmed
Thoughts:
- "Im a failure"
- "Nothing good ever happens to me"
- "People would better be better off without me"
What is known to cause depression?
- Long Term Unemployment
- Living in an abusive or uncaring relationship
- Family History
- Personality
- Serious Mental Illness
- Drug and alchohol use
- Loss and grief
- Bullying
- Discrimination
- Low self-esteem and body image
- Loneliness or family breakups
How can you help?
There are many ways you can help those with depression:
Treatments
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy(CBT)
- Support groups and online forums
- E-therapies
Strategies
- Diet and Exercise
- Helpful thinking(Change what you think about yourself)
- Online support groups
- Relaxation(Hobbies, getting enough sleep)
- E-therapies
- Communication(Spend more time with family and friends)
Organisations
Lifeline
Lifeline is a non-profit organisation that provides free 24 hour Telephone Crisis Support Service in Australia. They help with:
- Depression
- Suicidal attempts or thoughts
- Anxiety
- Loneliness
- Abuse and trauma
- Stress from work, family or society
Lifeline was founded by late Dr. Sir Alan Walker in 1963. They have around 1000 staff and 11,000 volunteers and make around 1800 calls each day.
Black Dog Institute
The Black Dog Institute is dedicated to understanding, preventing and treating mental illness such as depression.
Their mission is enabling mentally healthier lives through innovation in science, medicine, education, public policy and knowledge translation.
The Black Dog Institute was founded in 2002 and they help with those who have: depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD), anxiety, workplace mental health, adolescents and young people, suicide prevention, e-mental health, positive psychology and wellbeing.
Conclusion
Depression is when someone experiences sadness or are moody for a long period of time. Depression is not something you can just snap out off or a sign of weakness, and can lead to suicide if not treated. There are many ways you can treat depression whether it is online or therapy. If you know someone who has depression, help them through this difficult time and try to get help, help will not find you if no one is aware.
Reference
Lifeline
Black Dog Institute
Credits:
Created with images by Anemone123 - "desperate sad depressed" • thisguyhere - "teddy bear silhouette evil" • b_lumenkraft - "sad"