How to Be Brave and Helpful During Depression

Written by Finn Crozier

 Depression is a mental illness that affects many people, but the key to fixing it is understanding how it manifests and what you can do when you see someone with it. One of the first important steps to help treat depression is to look for signs.  Such signs include feelings of guilt, anxiety, hopelessness, loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies, decreased energy, fatigue, feeling slowed down, difficulty concentrating, physical aches or pains, headaches, cramps, digestive problems that do not have a clear physical cause or do not go away with treatment, thoughts of death or suicide, and suicide attempts. However, it does vary person to person.

If you have or know someone with depression, the best thing you can do is seek out help, whether it’s a professional or a friend.

Some of the ways that you treat depression are by doing small tasks that help you become more active, like taking a walk for about 20 minutes every day or confronting what is causing you fear. If you are seeking help to treat your depression, you can try cognitive behavioral therapy or counseling, for which you need a referral from your GP. Some people you can contact are Samaritans on 116 123 for 24-hour confidential, non-judgmental emotional support, your GP, and ask for an emergency appointment, 111 out of hours – they will help you find the support and help you need.