Depression

Depression is a common mental health problem that causes people to experience low mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration.

Symptoms:

Depression symptoms may vary among people but generally encompass a feeling of sadness or hopelessness. These can include:

• Tiredness and loss of energy
• Sadness that doesn’t go away
• Loss of self-confidence and self-esteem
• Difficulty concentrating
• Not being able to enjoy things that are usually pleasurable of interesting
• Feeling anxious all the time
• Avoiding other people, sometimes even your close friends
• Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness
• Sleeping problems – difficulties in getting off to sleep or waking up much earlier than usual
• Very strong feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• Finding it hard to function at work/college/school
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of sex drive and/or sexual problems
• Physical aches and pains
• Thinking about suicide and death
• Self-harm

Useful guidance:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/dealing-with-depression/

MIND – information and advice about mental health issues – www.mind.org.uk

Young Minds – charity committed to improving mental health of children and young people – http://www.youngminds.org.uk/

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stress
• OCD
• Eating Disorders