Everyone feels unhappy sometimes, but when it’s most of the time, you just can’t pull yourself out of it, or feel like you’re totally alone – that’s when depression is a more serious issue.

Some of the possible symptoms of depression include:

• Total lack of energy.
• A change in your eating habits.
• Feeling weepy and not knowing why.
• Having difficulty sleeping.
• Being excessively irritable.
• Using alcohol or drugs to alleviate stress.
• Feeling out of control.
• Mood swings.
• Regular headaches.
• Worrying about how you look, for example spots or your weight.
• A lack of interest in your usual hobbies or friends.
• Feeling you have no-one to talk to and that no-one understands you.

Lots of things can make you feel depressed, including:

• If someone close to you is ill, or dies.
• Worrying about your sexuality.
• Exam stress.
• Feeling left out and not being part of a group.
• Having a parent or carer who is depressed or worried about other things.
• Worrying about exams or getting disappointing results.
• Being bullied at school or elsewhere.
• If you have been abused or witnessed violence in your home.
• Having trouble with your boyfriend or girlfriend, or a close friend.

The important thing is not to just ignore how you feel and hope it will just go away.

Here’s how you can help yourself:

• Eat proper healthy meals.
• Take regular exercise – something you enjoy.
• Write how you feel in a diary.
• Listen to your favourite music – something upbeat.
• If there’s a hobby you enjoy, keep it up.
• Talk to your friends and family, they’ll want to help you.
• If there’s something particular worrying you, talk to someone you trust so you can decide together what to do next.
• Talk to your doctor, you may need counselling or medication.
• Know that you’re not alone and there are people who can help you just at the end of the telephone – see below for special helplines to talk to people who will listen, understand and help.

Who can help?

If you are looking for a local organisation or counsellor then check out the counselling directory. They hold a database of counsellors across the country.

The following organisations are also all available for you to speak to and are happy to help whatever the issue:

• Childline
  www.childline.org.uk
  Free Tel: 0800 1111 (24 hours a day, 365 days per year)
  Textphone: 0800 400 222 (9.30am to 9.30pm weekdays – 9.30am to 8pm weekends)
• Samaritans
  www.samaritans.org
  Tel: 08457 90 90 90 (24 hours a day, 365 days per year)
  Textphone: 08457 90 91 92
• Young Minds
  www.youngminds.org.uk
  Tel: 0207 336 8445 (9.30am to 5.30pm weekdays)
• CALM – Campaign Against Living Miserably
  www.thecalmzone.net
  Free Tel: 0800 58 58 58 (Daily from 5.00pm to 3.00am)