What is depression?
While we all feel sad, moody or low from time to time, some people experience these feelings intensely, for long periods of time (weeks, months or even years) and sometimes without any apparent reason. Depression is more than just a low mood – it's a serious condition that affects your physical and mental health.
Strategies to help depression
Everyone's different. Treatment needs to be tailored to your condition, circumstances, needs and preferences. Most people with depression benefit from one or a combination of the following:
- lifestyle changes and social support
- psychological or 'talking' therapies
- medical therapies.
While some people may just need to get help from one particular type of health professional, other people may benefit from seeing various people for different aspects of treatment.