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Depression
There is a way through it
What is Depression?
Feeling depressed
Or ‘down’ is common and can be a normal reaction to the stress of our everyday lives. When a low mood persists for a month or longer, along with a number of other symptoms, a person may be experiencing depression.
What causes depression?
Depression is thought to arise from a combination of genetic or biological factors, and stressful life events such as illness, major bereavement or break – up of a relationship. Sometimes there is no apparent trigger.
What are the Signs?
Signs or symptoms of depression vary between individuals and over time. Common signs include persistent low mood; sadness or emotional ‘numbness’; loss of pleasure in everyday activities; irritability; anxiety; poor concentration; feeling guilty or crying for no apparent reason; changes in eating or sleeping patterns; feelings of hopelessness and thoughts of death. If a number of these symptoms have been present for a month or longer, the person may have depression.
Depression can ‘sap the will’ and makes many normal tasks seem like an enormous effort.
How common is depression?
Up to one in five women and one in 10 men will become depressed at some point in their lives.
Anyone can become depressed, but it is most common in young people aged between 16 and 24.
How is it treated?
There is a range of treatments that have been proven to work. Different types of depression require different treatments. With treatment, most people will have a complete recovery and return to their usual activities and relationship.
Self-help
Looking for information is a good first step. Some self-help strategies have been found to be very effective for mild to moderate depression. These include physical activity, reducing the consumption of alcohol and recreational drugs, and dealing with stress and sleep problems.
Treatment
Treatment of more serious depression can also include counselling and/ or an antidepressant medication. If you are concerned about being depressed, you can call the depression helpline on 0800 111 757, or talk to a trusted family member or friend, your family doctor, or counsellor.
How can I help someone else with depression?
See yourself as part of their support team
Try not to take things personally or see the person as being ‘difficult’
Try and find helpful information on their behalf
Reassure the person that depression will lift in time
Take any thoughts of suicide seriously – it’s okay to talk about it
Don’t leave someone alone if they feel unsafe
Contact a health care provider or a crisis phone line
Encourage and support them to get help
Call the depression helpline (0800 111 757).
Where can I get more information?
www.depression.org.nz
0800 111 757
Seek help early!
Depression campaign
The depression campaign fronted by All Black great John Kirwan has got people talking. A dedicated helpline 0800 111 757 has been flooded with calls and people are talking about their experiences publicly, underlining the need for easy access to quality information about depression for those who need it, when they need it.
Support line counsellors are trained to assess callers’ needs, and provide information about services in the person’s community. One encouraging sign is the number of men who have called the information line for help, making the gender balance of callers almost even. John Kirwan speaking of his experience of depression is certainly having an impact on men. The legendary winger says:
“You need to tell someone. Loved ones, doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists…just reach out. And if you tell someone and they don’t get it, go and tell someone else until you get someone who gets it.”
The three year National Depression Initiative was launched by the Associate Minister of Health, Jim Anderton, and is part of the Government’s efforts to prevent suicide. Mr Anderton said at the launch:
“Depression is the most common mood disorder – last year almost six percent of us had a major depressive episode. That explains a lot about our tragically high rates of suicide. Depression is a major contributor and depression is widespread.”
There is no health without mental health
• Mental illness can affect anyone, of age, culture, income, sexuality or gender.
• One in five New Zealanders will experience a mental illness in any year.
• People with mental illness are part of our families, communities and workplaces.
• People with mental illness are more likely to be victims of violence than commit it.
• Discrimination is the biggest barrier to recovery
The Biggest Mental Health Problems Are Prejudice, Ignorance and Fear
What part are YOU playing?
Self-help techniques
Planning your day
When you are feeling depressed or low, it can be very hard to get going, but the more you can do, the better you are likely to feel.
Tips to plan your day:
• Make a chart so you can fill in what you plan to do each day (if you need to, ask someone to help you)
• Write in the everyday things, like mealtimes
• Fill in the gaps with other things, like doing your shopping or gardening
• Plan to do at least one thing that you enjoy each day
• Plan to do some physical activity each day
• If you run late, skip to the next thing on your plan
• Plan to do things with other people if you don’t feel like doing anything at all
• Reward yourself for what you have done.
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