Patchy
June 24th, 2008, 01:14 PM
Right at school we were handed leaflets on how depression affects young people like people our age and how to deal with it. I know its a huge thing to read but this hopefully will benefit at least some people.
Mental health in young people: depression
Sometimes we feel happy and excited
At other times, we'll feel sad and down
There are plenty of things that might make you worry. But people feel and react to different things in different ways. It's normal to feel stressed, anxious or lonely from time to time, or that no-one understands us. But for most people, these feelings come and go.
For a small number of people, feeling down or depressed can go on for a long time so they can't get on with their everyday lives.
Why do I feel like this?
'Mum walked out on me and my brother, and dad got a job in another part of the country so we had to move. Mum didn't want to see us any more, because she said she had a new life. Dad started drinking. It's like I lost everything I knew.'
There are lots of things that can make you feel down or depressed.
Here are some examples.....
• if someone close to you is ill, or dies
• worrying about how you look
• feeling guilty or responsible
• for someone else's behaviour
• worrying about your sexuality
• feeling left out and not being part of a group
• moving or leaving home
• feeling useless and worthless
• arguing with friends or family
• having a parent or carer who is depressed or worried about other things
• changes in your family or becoming part of a new family
• thinking things will never get better
• having trouble with your boyfriend or girlfriend, or even just a close friend
• worrying about exams or getting disappointing results
• being bullied at school or elsewhere
• if someone close to you moves away
• feeling you have no-one to talk to and that no-one understands you
• if you have been abused
How do I know if I'm feeling depressed?
Here are some examples.....
You may be down or depressed if you:
• feeling life is not worth living
• worrying about things
• feeling lazy or bored and tired a lot
• not wanting to go out
• lying or making up stories
• crying a lot
• eating a lot more or a lot less than usual
• being moody or irritable or snappy
• having trouble sleeping or having bad dreams
• feeling like harming yourself
• stealing things or getting into trouble
• feeling no-one likes you or people are talking behind your back
Ways to help a friend if they're unhappy or feeling depressed
• listen and try to be sympathetic
• don't expect them just to snap out of it
• don't criticise or tease them
• try and get them to talk about how they feel
• be patient and allow them time to talk
• try and help them look for help
Ways to help myself
'After I felt depressed a few times I knew I'd always come out of it, and just tried to do things to distract myself till it passed. That helped a bit. It was horrible thinking it might come back though. In the end I went for counselling, which helped me feel more in control of my life.'
'I didn't think I could talk to anyone I knew. I thought it would just make things worse. I couldn't talk to my friends about it because I didn't think they would take it seriously. I felt just completely alone. I wrote to a problem page and they encouraged me to phone a helpline. Once I did that they helped me have more confidence to get help.'
It's important that anyone who feels depressed finds ways to cope.
There are often good reasons why you feel down. So if you're feeling depressed, don't be afraid and don't panic.
And always remember, feeling sad and unhappy will come to an end, even if you sometimes find it hard to imagine.
You might find it good to...
• make a tape of your favourite music
• do some drawing or painting
• write things down in a diary
• write a poem or song
• listen to some music
These things may help you understand how you feel.
There are lots of other things which might help you feel better, at least for some of the time
The important thing is to do something that you enjoy.
Here are just some ideas...
• watch something you enjoy on TV
• get outside in the fresh air
• try a sport like swimming or jogging or dancing - even just go for a walk
• eat regularly and as healthily as you can
Talk to someone
Talking to someone might help you feel more able to cope. Try and talk to someone you like and trust. This might be a...
• friend
• parent or carer
• brother or sister
• aunt or uncle
• grandparent
• friend's parent
Other people you could talk to could be a...
• teacher
• school nurse
• school counsellor
• youth worker
• social worker
They may be able to come with you to talk to someone else or may be able to phone someone for advice if you don't want to do it yourself. They may be able to help and reassure you that they sometimes feel the same way.
Even if you can't control what is making you feel unhappy - for example, if adults close to you are always arguing, or if someone you know is unwell - it's still important to get help
If you speak to a teacher they can listen and may give you some advice. If you want, they can speak to someone to try and help sort things out or arrange for you to see a school counsellor. You have a school counsellor you can see without talking to the teacher.
If you speak to a doctor they should be sympathetic, listen and offer you some advice. Sometimes doctors prescribe tablets, which can be helpful if you are feeling very depressed. They can also refer you to a specialist that is trained to help young people with problems. What you talk to the doctor about will be confidential - that is, they will not tell anyone what you tell them. But if your health or safety is at serious risk then your doctor may want to tell your parent or carer. You may want to speak to your doctor first about this and explain that you want what you say to be confidential.
If you speak to a counsellor or therapist, or someone who is a specialist in young people's difficulties, they will be very sympathetic. They will give you the time to think about what you are going through. They are trained and used to talking to people who have all sorts of worries. They will respect confidentiality and if you agree they may offer to meet you, together with other people who matter to you. You can also find out about places where young people can go for help through your guidance councillor.
If you are nervous you can always take a friend with you.
I take no credit to this it was a leaflet created by the Scottish health network.
Mental health in young people: depression
Sometimes we feel happy and excited
At other times, we'll feel sad and down
There are plenty of things that might make you worry. But people feel and react to different things in different ways. It's normal to feel stressed, anxious or lonely from time to time, or that no-one understands us. But for most people, these feelings come and go.
For a small number of people, feeling down or depressed can go on for a long time so they can't get on with their everyday lives.
Why do I feel like this?
'Mum walked out on me and my brother, and dad got a job in another part of the country so we had to move. Mum didn't want to see us any more, because she said she had a new life. Dad started drinking. It's like I lost everything I knew.'
There are lots of things that can make you feel down or depressed.
Here are some examples.....
• if someone close to you is ill, or dies
• worrying about how you look
• feeling guilty or responsible
• for someone else's behaviour
• worrying about your sexuality
• feeling left out and not being part of a group
• moving or leaving home
• feeling useless and worthless
• arguing with friends or family
• having a parent or carer who is depressed or worried about other things
• changes in your family or becoming part of a new family
• thinking things will never get better
• having trouble with your boyfriend or girlfriend, or even just a close friend
• worrying about exams or getting disappointing results
• being bullied at school or elsewhere
• if someone close to you moves away
• feeling you have no-one to talk to and that no-one understands you
• if you have been abused
How do I know if I'm feeling depressed?
Here are some examples.....
You may be down or depressed if you:
• feeling life is not worth living
• worrying about things
• feeling lazy or bored and tired a lot
• not wanting to go out
• lying or making up stories
• crying a lot
• eating a lot more or a lot less than usual
• being moody or irritable or snappy
• having trouble sleeping or having bad dreams
• feeling like harming yourself
• stealing things or getting into trouble
• feeling no-one likes you or people are talking behind your back
Ways to help a friend if they're unhappy or feeling depressed
• listen and try to be sympathetic
• don't expect them just to snap out of it
• don't criticise or tease them
• try and get them to talk about how they feel
• be patient and allow them time to talk
• try and help them look for help
Ways to help myself
'After I felt depressed a few times I knew I'd always come out of it, and just tried to do things to distract myself till it passed. That helped a bit. It was horrible thinking it might come back though. In the end I went for counselling, which helped me feel more in control of my life.'
'I didn't think I could talk to anyone I knew. I thought it would just make things worse. I couldn't talk to my friends about it because I didn't think they would take it seriously. I felt just completely alone. I wrote to a problem page and they encouraged me to phone a helpline. Once I did that they helped me have more confidence to get help.'
It's important that anyone who feels depressed finds ways to cope.
There are often good reasons why you feel down. So if you're feeling depressed, don't be afraid and don't panic.
And always remember, feeling sad and unhappy will come to an end, even if you sometimes find it hard to imagine.
You might find it good to...
• make a tape of your favourite music
• do some drawing or painting
• write things down in a diary
• write a poem or song
• listen to some music
These things may help you understand how you feel.
There are lots of other things which might help you feel better, at least for some of the time
The important thing is to do something that you enjoy.
Here are just some ideas...
• watch something you enjoy on TV
• get outside in the fresh air
• try a sport like swimming or jogging or dancing - even just go for a walk
• eat regularly and as healthily as you can
Talk to someone
Talking to someone might help you feel more able to cope. Try and talk to someone you like and trust. This might be a...
• friend
• parent or carer
• brother or sister
• aunt or uncle
• grandparent
• friend's parent
Other people you could talk to could be a...
• teacher
• school nurse
• school counsellor
• youth worker
• social worker
They may be able to come with you to talk to someone else or may be able to phone someone for advice if you don't want to do it yourself. They may be able to help and reassure you that they sometimes feel the same way.
Even if you can't control what is making you feel unhappy - for example, if adults close to you are always arguing, or if someone you know is unwell - it's still important to get help
If you speak to a teacher they can listen and may give you some advice. If you want, they can speak to someone to try and help sort things out or arrange for you to see a school counsellor. You have a school counsellor you can see without talking to the teacher.
If you speak to a doctor they should be sympathetic, listen and offer you some advice. Sometimes doctors prescribe tablets, which can be helpful if you are feeling very depressed. They can also refer you to a specialist that is trained to help young people with problems. What you talk to the doctor about will be confidential - that is, they will not tell anyone what you tell them. But if your health or safety is at serious risk then your doctor may want to tell your parent or carer. You may want to speak to your doctor first about this and explain that you want what you say to be confidential.
If you speak to a counsellor or therapist, or someone who is a specialist in young people's difficulties, they will be very sympathetic. They will give you the time to think about what you are going through. They are trained and used to talking to people who have all sorts of worries. They will respect confidentiality and if you agree they may offer to meet you, together with other people who matter to you. You can also find out about places where young people can go for help through your guidance councillor.
If you are nervous you can always take a friend with you.
I take no credit to this it was a leaflet created by the Scottish health network.