What is depression?

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Have you lost interest in the things you used to love?

Has your mood felt low for weeks, or months at a time?

Depression is a mental health illness that can cause a person to feel low in their mood or sad for weeks, months or years. Depression can range from mild to severe and can have a huge impact on your day-to-day life. People with depression might struggle to get to work, to be social and lose interest in the things they love doing.

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‘The black dog’

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Sometimes you hear people describe their depression as ‘the black dog’ - a feeling of darkness that follows them around, always by their side like a dog might be.

For others, they might think about their depression as being more like a black cloud, or maybe a deep pit they can’t get out of.

Signs of depression

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Some of the signs of depression are:

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• Feeling hopeless or helpless

• Low self-esteem

• Feeing irritable

• Fearful

• Losing enjoyment in hobbies and passions

• No motivation

• Feeling guilty

• Feeling like a burden

• Having suicidal thoughts

• Thoughts of self-harm

Coping with depression

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So what do you do if you can’t get rid of the black dog? What happens if you can’t shift that black cloud or you can’t find your way out of the deep pit?  

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There are lots of different things you can do to help with your symptoms of depression. Part of managing your depression is discovering the right route that works for you.

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You might look at things like:

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• Medication

• Therapy (for example, cognitive behavioural therapy, person–centred therapy or group therapy)

• Mindfulness

• Creativity

• Exercise

• Support groups

• Nutrition

• Stress reduction

• Meditation

You can always seek support or advice if you feel you’re able to. This could be the support of a friend or family member, a health professional or a registered charity.

What to do if you think you may have depression

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If you think you’re depressed or feel you are struggling emotionally, speak to your GP or get in contact with your local mental health organisation.

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Tools and resources to help with depression

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