Getting help for depression - the best types of depression help and how you can help yourself.

Depression is a common problem. It affects at least 2 in 100 children under 12 and 5 in every 100 teenagers. Depression is even more common in adults. Young people are much more likely to become depressed if they have separated parents, have lost a parent in early life, have suffered from abuse or neglect or live in inner city areas where there are high rates of poverty, unemployment and crime. Depression is a serious and common illness but nowadays there is a great deal that can be done to help those affected by it. The first step to getting help is to be able to recognize the problem.

Because depression affects so many aspects of life, your outlook, how you feel, what you are able to do, it can mean you cope with ordinary daily life much less well than usual.

• Difficulties getting on with friends and family
• Loss of friends
• Loss of confidence and difficulty making decisions
• Inability to study, work and perform well in exams
• Difficulty with day to day tasks
• Eating problems
• Lying, stealing and truanting

• Drug, alcohol or solvent abuse
• Self injury such as drug overdose and wrist cutting
• Suicide

Depression is commonly caused by a mixture of things rather than any one thing alone.Some people have experiences that lead to depression. These include family breakdown, abuse, neglect and bullying. Serious illness and the death or loss of a loved one can also cause depression. People are more ‘at risk’ of becoming depressed if they have no one to share their worries with, a lot of demands on them, and not enough support. Depression often ‘runs in families’ and someone with a close relative who is affected by depression has a higher risk of becoming depressed themselves. Girls and women are more likely than boys and men to become depressed.

No one type of depression medication has been shown to be significantly more effective than any other. Antidepressants are also very poor at preventing relapse, and more often than not require a long course of treatment.

Effective therapy needs to incorporate everything that works in lifting depression. You may be able to help yourself effectively, although often it is useful to get the help of a professional.

Depression can make one feel exhausted, worthless, helpless, and hopeless. Such negative thoughts and feelings make some people feel like giving up. It is important to realize that these negative views are part of depression and typically do not accurately reflect the situation. Negative thinking fades as treatment begins to take effect. In the meantime:

• Set realistic goals and assume a reasonable amount of responsibility.

• Break large tasks into small ones, set some priorities, and do what you can as you can.

• Try not be on your own too often; you need to be with people and to confide in someone.

• Participate in activities that may make you feel better.

• Mild exercise, going to a movie, or participating in social, or other activities may help.

• Expect your mood to improve gradually, not immediately. Feeling better takes time.

• It is advisable to postpone important decisions until the depression has lifted.

• People rarely "snap out of" a depression. But they can feel a little better day by day.

• Remember, positive thinking will replace the negative thinking.

• Let your family and friends help you.

It may be difficult to take action if you are very depressed. If that is the case, then it is important that you seek help.

Contact the Counselling Service. Counsellors are very used to dealing with depression. Don't be afraid to see your GP if you think that you are depressed. Your GP may refer you to appropriate help or may offer medication in the form of antidepressants. Medication does not necessarily take away the cause of the depression, but may give you enough of a lift to take action to deal with the depression yourself as suggested above.

Around 75% of the population suffer from depression at some time in their lives. If you learn to recognise your own particular set of symptoms which tell you you're depressed, and acquaint yourself with the coping mechanisms for trying to deal with them, you can often learn how to manage your depression. It is very important not to think you are weak or inadequate because you are depressed, but to marshal your resources for finding a way out of your depression. Many people find it helpful to read and learn more about the management of depression. There is a wealth of literature on the subject available from most large bookstores.