
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/