Depression is a mental illness where you feel sad and miserable most of the time and your mood is persistently very low.
Being depressed is more than feeling down for a day or two – it usually continues for weeks or months at a time.
Depression can range from being a mild illness, to a severe one – where you can lose interest in life and the things you used to enjoy.
Triggers of depression
Often depression is triggered by a difficult situation or stressful changes in your life. It can build up over many years.
Signs of depression
Some of the signs of depression are:
- feeling tired all the time
- getting too much sleep or not enough
- feeling worthless and helpless
- thinking about death a lot
- having no energy and feelings of low self-esteem
- loss of appetite or overeating
- sadness or emotional ‘numbness’
- loss of pleasure in everyday activities
- irritability or anxiety
- poor concentration
- feeling guilty, or crying for no apparent reason.
Managing your depression
There are things you can do yourself to help manage your depression. Here are a few ideas:
- do regular exercise
- get good quality sleep
- understand what triggers depression for you (eg, lack of sleep, too much stress)
- join a support group
- eat healthily
- reduce stress
- learn relaxation techniques.
Getting help
Getting help is an important part of managing depression.
Talk to someone:
- a friend or a family member
- free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor
- your GP, who can advise on the best treatment options for you
- a member of your local community mental health team (contact them through your local district health board).
Get in touch with counselling services:
- a school guidance counsellor
- iwi and other Māori health counselling services
- alcohol and drug services
- family support services.
Phone a helpline:
- Need to talk? (1737, free text or call)
- the Depression Helpline (0800 111 757)
- Lifeline (0800 543 354)
- Samaritans (0800 726 666)
- Youthline (0800 376 633)
Taking medicines for mood?
Medicines for epilepsy, mental health, and pain can harm your unborn baby (PDF, 240 KB) contains important information for people who could get pregnant who are:
- near childbearing age and sexually active
- thinking of getting pregnant or are pregnant.
- taking medicines for epilepsy, pain, or mood regulation.
If you have any questions about this or your medication you should discuss this with your health provider. It is important that you keep taking your medication and that you talk to you doctor about any changes that will be right for you.
Find out more from the Ministry
- Mental health – information on what the Ministry does in this area