What you need to know about depression
Depression is a common illness worldwide, with more than 300 million people affected. Depression is different from usual mood fluctuations and short-lived emotional responses to challenges in everyday life. Depression results from a complex interaction of social, psychological and biological factors. (World Health Organization, WHO, 2017).
Depression is an illness that involves not only the mind or brain but the whole body, affecting the way a person eats, sleeps, feels about himself or herself, and thinks about things. It is not a passing, normal, state of mind and it is neither a sign of personal weakness nor a condition that one can 'snap out of'.
In general, depression can affect anyone: men and women from all backgrounds, in all professions, and at all stages of life. Even people whose lives seem carefree and contented can experience depression.
Depression can be treated. If you think you have depression, seek help.
Information for young people
Why do I need information on depression?
Depression is a mental health disorder. This means that depression is an illness. Both brain and body will be affected by this illness. However, it is important to keep in mind that depression is treatable.
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What is depression?
Depression is a serious condition; depression is not stress or merely feeling unwell; depression is not simply a psychological disorder; depression is a mental disorder; depression is a systemic illness; depression is a common disorder; depression can affect anyone; depression might be recurrent or chronic.
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What is 'adolescence'?
Adolescence is a phase of maturation: it is a transitional period of physical and psychological human development between childhood and adulthood, the cultural purpose of which involves preparation to assume adult roles.
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How normal are my feelings?
Even though depression is a common experience, there is a lot of misunderstanding around it. Someone can be suffering but that does not mean they are depressed.
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Depression in adolescents
Depressive symptoms in adolescents from 13 to 18 years often do not present as melancholic mood with sadness, losing interest, hopelessness, ruminating or lack of motivation. Instead, aggressive behaviour, substance abuse, and somatic symptoms may mask a depression disorder. In addition, individual cases are much more specific than in adults. Frequently, adolescents present with somatic and psychological symptoms.
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What should I know about self-harm?
'Self-harm' refers to a behaviour (like self-injury or overdose of medication or drugs) that is undertaken to intentionally cause harm to a person's own body.
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Depression is a treatable illness
Getting treatment can be helpful for most adolescents with depression since it is likely that depression will get worse if left untreated.
Read moreiFightDepression® Tool
The iFightDepression® Tool is an online, guided self-management programme that aims to help individuals with mild to moderate depression to self-manage their symptoms. If your GP or healthcare professional referred you to access to the iFightDepression tool and you have a personal user account, click the button below:
