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Getting help for depression

When you think about it, depression is just like any other illness.  If for example, you had asthma, you might need to:

  • use an inhaler when you get short of breath
  • organise an exercise program to keep fit and healthy
  • avoid certain foods or the family pets.

To get by, you’ve got to know what the symptoms are and how to manage them.  It’s the same with depression and anxiety.  You, your doctor and maybe your family and friends too, need to come up with ways to help get you through it, and to stop it happening again later on.

Here’s some ways to get by which other young people have suggested:

Talk about what’s going on

If you’re feeling depressed or anxious, don’t bottle it up.  Find someone to talk to - maybe there’s someone in your family, a school counsellor, a coach, an older friend, someone at church or work or another adult whom you respect.

If you don’t think you’ve got someone like that, there’s telephone and online counselling available.

You can speak to trained counsellors by phoning these 24-hour telephone counselling services:

  • Lifeline - 13 11 14 (cost of a local call; 24 hours)
  • Kids Help Line - 1800 55 1800 (free call from a land line; 24 hours)

Information and support is also available from the following websites:

These websites an help you to find health services in your area. They list services that are either free of charge or low cost:

If you or a friend want to communicate with someone via email or online, Kids Help Line offers confidential, non-judgemental, emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Join a young person’s support group

There are lots of other people who’ve been through difficult times. Some young people may have depression or another mental illness and others may have a partner, family member or a friend who’s affected. Sometimes, talking to others and exchanging ideas, can help.

There’ll also be a list of services for young people in your phone book, some of which may run support groups.  You can also use the “Help Near You” database on the Reach Out! site www.reachout.com.au or check out www.lifeline.org.au/service_finder to find groups and help services in your area.

Eat good food and stay active

Sometimes if you’re depressed you can get into bad habits with what you eat.  You may also stop doing things you enjoy, like playing sports or going to the gym.  If you’re feeling down, it can sometimes help just to get out of the house for a while - go for a walk or a run, swim, attend a dance or yoga class.  Eating well can also help keep you healthy: in both body and mind.

Write it down

Keeping a diary or a journal may also help.  It doesn’t matter whether you write every day or just when you feel like it.  You may like to write entries about how you’re feeling, stories or poems.  Sometimes, just putting stuff down on paper helps you work things out.

Take time out

What do you enjoy:

  • seeing a movie
  • surfing the net
  • hanging out with friends at a café
  • going to the footy?

Make a list of things you like doing and make an effort to do at least one of them every day.

Don’t stress (or don’t stress too much)

If you feel yourself getting stressed about something - an exam, a relationship or maybe something totally different - take time out.  Go for a walk, play sport, let off some steam.  You might want to learn some breathing exercises or take up meditation.

Keep your eyes open

If you’ve been feeling good for a while now, that’s fantastic.  It’s important that even when you feel like this though, that you keep a check on how you’re going.  Recovering from depression and anxiety definitely has its ups and downs and it’s normal to have a bad day (or a sad day) now and then.

If you start feeling depressed or anxious again, or if you notice some of your symptoms coming back, it’s important that you act early and let someone know how you’re feeling.