Depression is the most common mental health condition, it is a mood disorder which will be long lasting and will affect your daily living.
Depression ISN’T when you’ve just had a bad day!! Depression can affect anyone, at any time in their life. Suffering from depression, doesn’t make you weak.
Estimated: 10%-15% of the general population, in their
lifetime will experience
depression!!
Suicidal Thoughts/ Feelings
Suicide is the act of intentionally taking your own life. Every individual will experience these thoughts/ feelings differently, it may be a build up over time or after a traumatic event. Sometimes it isn’t always clear why someone feels suicidal.
Key Facts
In 2017 there were 6,213 suicides in the UK and Republic of Ireland.In the UK, men are three times as likely to take their own lives than women.
In the Republic of Ireland, men are four times more likely to take their own lives than women.
In the UK, the highest suicide rate was for men aged 45-49.
In the Republic of Ireland, the highest suicide rate was for men aged 25–34 (with an almost identical rate for men aged 45–54). (www.samaritans.org)
If you’re struggling or feeling low, talk to someone. You are not alone!!
Causes
Genetics
Biology– Chemical
Imbalance in the brain
Hormones
Circadian Rhythm
Disturbance
Physical Health
Problems
Poor diet/ nutrition
Poor sleep
Lack of exercise
Substance Misuse
Stress/ Life
Experiences
Trauma
Grief/ Loss of person, animal or role
Bad upbringing/
Childhood experiences
Other Mental Health conditions
Suffering from depression can be caused differently for everyone of us, it is not always known why someone falls into depression. Individual’s vulnerability to depression will be different and can change throughout life; some research states that experiencing “minor” difficult situations frequently can have a more critical affect on a person, than
someone experiencing one extreme traumatic event. Letting things build up can be very
damaging!!
Symptoms
How you might feel or behave.
down, upset or tearful
restless, agitated or
irritable
guilty, worthless and
down on yourself
empty and numb
isolated and unable to
relate to other people
finding no pleasure in life or things you usually enjoy
a sense of unreality
no self-confidence or self-esteem
hopeless and despairing
thoughts to self-harm/ suicidal
avoiding social events and activities you
usually enjoy
self-harming or suicidal behaviour
difficulty speaking, thinking clearly or making decisions
losing interest in sex/ become promiscuous
difficulty remembering or concentrating on things
using more tobacco, alcohol or other drugs than usual
difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much
feeling tired all the time
no appetite and losing weight, or eating too much and gaining weight
physical aches and pains with no obvious physical cause
moving very slowly, or being restless and agitated.
If you constantly have these feelings, for over two week… Seek Help, See your GP!!
Treatments.
How can I help myself?
Self Help Resources
Talking Therapies
Medication
Coming off different Medication
Alternative therapies- mindfulness, relaxation, peer support, art or pet therapy
Crisis Resolution Services
Hospital Admission
Brain Stimulation- ECT
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Exercise
Hobbies/Interests
Routine
USEFUL CONTACTS…
Anxiety UK
03444 775 774 (Monday–Friday 9.30am–5.30pm)
Big White Wall
bigwhitewall.com
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
01455 883 300
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
0800 58 58 58 (5pm-midnight daily) Webchat (5pm-midnight daily)
Cruse Bereavement Care
0808 808 1677
Depression UK
depressionuk.org
The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC)
0808 801 0331
NCT
0300 330 0700 (Support Line: 8am to midnight daily)
Papyrus HOPELineUK
0800 068 41 41
07786 209697 (text message service)
Samaritans
116 123 (Freephone)
United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
020 7014 9955
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