Depression
What is it
Everyone experiences times where they feel low or negative.
If someone’s low feelings last for a long time, or if they’re severe, it might be because they have depression. Depression is a mood disorder that makes people feel down, low, or sad all the time. Depression can be linked to things like bullying, stress over exams or difficult events, changes in someone’s family or friendship groups, or other changes in their life.
Feelings and behaviours
- Feeling low or sad for an extend period of time, longer than is normal for you
- Feeling hopeless and helpless with situations or life in general
- Having a low sense of self-worth or self-esteem
- Feeling guilty about lots of things
- Becoming irritable, grumpy, and intolerant of others
- Not being interested in things
- Having little motivation
- Finding it hard to make decisions
- Feeling anxious or worried
- In some cases, thinking about self-harm or hurting yourself
Physical signs
- Having trouble sleeping (finding it difficult to get to sleep or waking up lots)
- Your weight noticeably fluctuating (going up and/or down)
- Changes in periods or being unable to get an erection
- Difficulties concentrating
- Constipation
- Low energy
- Aches and pains that appear without a physical cause
- Being lethargic, where your thoughts and actions slow down
What’s going on
Interviews, art, blogs, and tips about mental health and wellbeing.
Young people share ideas for how to cope with low mood and feeling down or depressed.
For people with mental health conditions, deciding whether to fast can be complicated, with lots of things to consider.
It can be difficult to know how to start a conversation about mental health. Here are some tips and conversation starters.
A list of mental health books for teenagers co-developed by health experts and young people with The Reading Agency.
Get support for how you’re feeling
Get mental health support for young people
Information about mental health services (including CAMHS) if you’re a young person in Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kensington and Chelsea, or Westminster.
Digital mental health support for young people across the UK
Information about apps, websites, and other digital tools that exist to support you with your mental health and wellbeing.